WT/GC/W/929  
 
11 March 2024  
(24-2210) Page: 1/5 
General Council  Original: English  
 
 
WAIVERS – 2023  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
The attached table has been prepared for the information of delegations. It contains a list of waivers 
granted by the General Council in 2023, as well as waivers previously granted and still in force in 
2023. It should be noted that some of these waivers expired during the course of the year.  
 
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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/929  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT IN 
20232 
Granted in 2023  
Canada – Extension of the Waiver for the Caribbean Initiative: CARIBCAN  WT/L/ 1166 9 May 2023  31 December 2033  - 
Introduction Of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules 
of Tariff Concessions3 WT/L/ 1181 13 December 2023  31 December 2024  - 
Introduction Of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules 
of Tariff Concessions4 WT/L/ 1182 13 December 2023  31 December 2024  - 
Introduction Of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules 
of Tariff Concessions5 WT/L/ 1183 13 December 2023  31 December 2024  - 
Introduction Of Harmonized System 2017 Changes into WTO Schedules 
of Tariff Concessions6 WT/L/ 1184 13 December 2023  31 December 2024  - 
Introduction Of Harmonized System 2022 Changes into WTO Schedules 
of Tariff Concessions7 WT/L/ 1185/Rev.1  13 December 2023  31 December 2024  - 
  
 
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; and, Malaysia.  
5 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Br azil; China; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; Ecuador; European Union; Guatemala; 
India; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; Malaysia; Mexico ; Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; Switzerland; Thailand; and,  United States.  
6 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argent ina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic;  Ecuador; 
El Salvador; Europ ean Union; Guatemala; Hong K ong, China; India; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Philippines; Russian Federati on; 
Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; United States; and,  Uruguay.  
7 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Australia ; Canada ; China ; Colombia ; Costa Rica ; Dominican Republic ; Ecuador ; El Salvador ; 
European Union; Hong Kong, China; India; Korea, Republic of; Macao, China; Norway; Paraguay; Ph ilippines; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; and, United States.   
  WT/GC/W/929  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT IN 
20238 
Previ ously granted – in force in 202 3 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions9 WT/L/1160  20 December 2022  31 December 2023  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions10 WT/L/1161  20 December 2022  31 December 2023  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions11 WT/L/1162  20 December 2022  31 December 2023  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2017 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions12 WT/L/1163  20 December 2022  31 December 2023  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2022 Changes into WTO 
Schedules of Tariff Concessions13 WT/L/1 164, 
WT/L/1164/Add.1  20 December 2022  31 December 2023  - 
Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement14 WT/MIN(22)/30  
WT/L/1141  17 June 2022  5 years from the 
date of this Decision  - 
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 2015  1 January  2033 - 
 
8 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.   
9 The Member which has requested to be covered under this waiver is: China.  
10 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Repu blic; European Union; and, Malaysia.  
11 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 ; Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; Switzerland; Thailand; and,  United States.  
12 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica; Domini can Republic;  Ecuador; 
El Salvador; Europ ean Union; Guatemala; Hong K ong, China; India; 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.  
13 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver  are: Australia ; Canada ; China ; Colombia ; Costa Rica ; Dominican Republic ; Ecuador ; El Salvador ; 
European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; India; Korea, Republic of; Macao, China; Norway; Paraguay; Philippines; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Separate C ustoms 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; and, United States.  
14 Adopted by Ministers at the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference on 17 June 2022.   
  WT/GC/W/929  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT IN 
20238 
Previ ously granted – in force in 202 3 
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds15  WT/L/1039  26 July 2018  31 December 2024  - 
European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment 
to the Western Balkans  WT/L/1114  28 July 2021  31 December  2026 WT/L/1 169 
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 - 
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least -Developed Countries  WT/L/1069  16 October  2019 30 June 2029  - 
Cuba – Article XV:6  WT/L/1128  23 November 2021  31 December 2026  WT/L/1179  
United States – African Growth and Opportunity A ct WT/L/970  30 November 2015  30 September 2025  WT/L/1173  
United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery A ct WT/L/1070  16 October 2019  30 September 2025  WT/L/1174  
United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/1000  7 December 2016  31 December 2026  WT/L/1175  
United States – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal  WT/L/1001  7 December 2016  31 December 2025  WT/L/1176  
 
15 Annex: Australia; Botswana ; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada; European Union; Guyana; India; Jap an; 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.  
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.   
  WT/GC/W/929  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT IN 
20238 
Previ ously granted – in force in 202 3 
Implementation of Preferential Treatment in favour of Services and 
Service Suppliers of LDCs and Increasing LDC Participation in Services 
Trade18 WT/L/982  
WT/MIN(15)/48  19 December 2015  31 December 203019 - 
Canada - CARIBCAN20 WT/L/958  28 July 2015  31 December  2023 WT/L/1146  
Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to 
Services and Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries21 WT/MIN(13)/43  
WT/L/918  7 December 2013  - - 
Implementation of Para. 6 of the Doha Declarati on on the 
TRIPS  Agreement and Public Health22 WT/L/540  and 
WT/L/540/Corr.1  30 August 2003  See WT/L/540  and 
WT/L/540/Corr.1  IP/C/97 
 
 
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18 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtheranc e of the waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  adopted in 2011 
(WT/L/847 ) and of the subsequent Decision on the Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Su ppliers of Least -developed countries 
adopted in 2013 ( WT/MIN(13)/43  - WT/L/918 ) – see also below.  
19 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.  
20 For the Decision on CARIBCAN, adopted on  9 May 2023, see page 2.  
21 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 2011 
(WT/L/847 ). It does not represent a new waiver. See also page 5  and the decision in WT/L/847 , below . 
22 Pursuant to the General Council Decision of 30 August 2003 ( WT/L/540  and Corr.1), a Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement was adop ted by the General Council on 
6 December 2005 ( WT/L/641 ) and submitted to Members for acceptance. In accordance with Article X:3 of the WTO Agreement, the Protocol e ntered 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 wi ll 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.