WT/GC/W/816  
 
19 January  2021 
(21-0570) Page: 1/5 
General Council    
 
 
WAIVERS – 2020 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
The attached table has been prepared for the information of delegations. It contains a list of waivers 
grante d by the General Council in 20 20, as well as waivers previously gr anted and still in force in 
2020. It should be noted that some of these waivers expired during the course of the year.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.   
  WT/GC/W/816  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20202 
Granted in 20 20 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions3 WT/L/ 1104 18 December 2020 31 December 20 21 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions4 WT/L/ 1105 18 December 20 20 31 December 20 21 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions5 WT/L/ 1106 18 December 20 20 31 December 20 21 - 
Introd uction of Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions6 WT/L/ 1107 18 December 20 20 31 December 20 21 - 
  
 
2 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.  
3 The Member which has  requested to be covered under  this waiver is : China . 
4 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Malaysia; Philippines; and, Thailand . 
5 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Br azil; China; Colombia; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; Ecuador; 
European  Union; Guatemala; India; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; Switzerl and; Thailand; 
and, United  States.  
6 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic;  Ecuador; 
El Salvador; Europ ean Union; Guatemala;  Honduras;  Hong K ong, China;  India; Israel; Kazakhstan;  Republic of  Korea ; Macao, China; Montenegro;  New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; 
Paraguay;  Philippines; Russian Federation; Switzerland;  Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; United States ; and , Uruguay.   
  WT/GC/W/816  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 20 207 
Previ ously granted – in force in 20 20 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions8 WT/L/10 82 10 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions9 WT/L/10 83 10 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions10 WT/L/10 84 10 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Introd uction of Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions11 WT/L/10 85 10 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least -Developed Countries – 
Decision on Extension of waiver  WT/L/ 1069 16 October  2019 30 June 2029  - 
United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery A ct WT/L/1070  16 October 2019  30 September 2025  WT/L/1096, 
WT/L/1096/Corr.1  
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds - 
Extension of Waiver12  WT/L/1039  26 July 2018  31 December 2024  - 
United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/1000  7 December 2016  31 December 2026  WT/L/1098, 
WT/L/1098/Corr.1, 
WT/L/1098/Corr.2  
 
7 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.  
8 The Member which has requested to be covered under this waiver is: China.  
9 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argen tina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Malaysia; Philippines; and, Thailand . 
10 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Br azil; Canada; China; Colombia; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; El  Salvador; 
European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; India; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; 
Switzerland; Thailand; and,  United States.  
11 The Members  which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic;  El Salvador; 
Europ ean Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong K ong, China; India; Israel; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea; Macao, China; Montenegro;  New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; 
Philippines; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; United States; and,  Uruguay.  
12 Annex: Australia; Botswana ; Brazil ; Cambodia; Canada; European Union; Guyana; India; Japan; Kazakhstan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mauritius; Montenegro; Namibia; 
Norway; Panama; Russian Federation; Sierra Leone; Singapore; South Afri ca; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Thailand; Separate Customs  Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 
Turkey; Ukraine; and , United States.   
  WT/GC/W/816  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 20 207 
Previ ously granted – in force in 20 20 
United States – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal  WT/L/1001  7 December 2016  31 December 2025  WT/L/ 1099 
European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment 
to the Western Balkans  WT/L/1002  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  WT/L/1103  
Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver  WT/L/1003  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  WT/L/1102  
Implementation of Preferential Treatment in favour of Services and 
Service Suppliers of LDCs and Increasing LDC Participation in 
Services Trade13 WT/L/982  
WT/MIN(15)/48  19 December 2015  31 December 203014 - 
United States – African Growth and Opportunity A ct WT/L/970  30 November 2015  30 September 2025  WT/L/1097, 
WT/L/1097/Corr.1  
Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.8 
and Article 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to 
Pharmaceutical Products  WT/L/971  30 November 2 015 1 January  2033 - 
Canada - CARIBCAN  WT/L/958  28 July 2015  31 December  2023 WT/L/1091  
Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment 
to Services and Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries15 WT/MIN(13)/43  
WT/L/918  7 December 2013  - - 
 
13 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  adopted in 20 11 
(WT/L/847) and of the subsequent Decision on the Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Suppliers of Least -developed countries 
adopted in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43 - WT/L/918)  – see also below.  
14 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the  2011 waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  
(WT/L/847 ). See also below.  
15 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the w aiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  adopted in 2011 
(WT/L/847). It does not represent a new waiver. See also page 5  and the decision in WT/L/847, below .  
  WT/GC/W/816  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 20 207 
Previ ously granted – in force in 20 20 
Preferential Treatment to Services  and Service Suppliers of Least -
developed countries16 WT/L/847  17 December 2011  15 years from the 
date of its 
adoption17 - 
Implementation of Para. 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 
Agreement and Public Health18 WT/L/540 and 
WT/L/540/ Corr.1  30 August 2003  See WT/L/540 and 
WT/L/540/ Corr.1  IP/C/8 6, 
IP/C/86/Corr.1  
 
 
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16 Two decisions were subsequently adopted by  the Ministerial Conference in furtherance of this waiver: in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918) and in 2015 (WT/MIN(15)/48 
– WT/L/982). See also above and the decision in WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918.  
17 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to  extend the waiver until 31 December 2030  (WT/MIN(15)/48 – WT/L/982) - see also above.  
18 Pursuant to the General Council Decision of 30 August 2003 (WT/L/540 and Corr.1), a Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement was  adopted by the General Council on 
6 Decem ber 2005 (WT/L/641) and submitted to Members for acceptance. In accordance with Article X:3 of the WTO Agreement, the Protoco l entered into force on 23  January  2017. 
Since then, the amended TRIPS Agreement applies to those Members who have accepted it. For  each other Member, the Protocol will take effect upon acceptance by it. In the 
meantime, the 2003 Decision continues to apply to those Members. For the purposes of the 2003 Decision, the Annual Review of the Special Compulsory Licensing System is deemed 
to fulfil the review requirements of Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement.