G/L/1334  
 
5 November 2019  
(19-7482) Page: 1/2 
    
 
REPORT (201 9) OF THE COMMITTEE  OF PARTICIPANTS ON THE EXPANSION  
OF TRADE IN INFORMAT ION TECHNOLOGY PRODU CTS 
1.1.  The Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products, 
hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", was established pursuant to the provisions of the 
Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (WT/MIN(96)/16), hereinafter 
referred to as "the Ministerial Declaration", and the provisions for the Implementation of the 
Ministerial Declar ation on Trade in Information Technology Products (G/L/160), in order to carry out 
the provisions of paragraphs  3, 5, 6, and 7 of the Annex to the Declaration.  
1.2.  The Committee has held two  formal meetings in 2019: on 14  May and 31  October. The minutes 
of the se meetings are contained in documents  G/IT/M/70 and G/IT/M/71. Mr  Kazunori FUKUDA 
(Japan) was elected Chairman of the Committee for 2019.  
1.3.  The total number of WTO  Members that are participants to the Ministerial Declaration is 82. 
The Committee has consist ently reviewed the status of implementation, a summary of which is 
provided in document  G/IT/1 and its revisions. The document details that all but one  participant had 
submitted the formal documentation for the rectification and modification of their WTO  schedules in 
order to incorporate the commitments arising from the Ministerial Declaration, and that they had 
been certified by the Director -General. Three  implementation issues, concerning India, China and 
Indonesia, have been raised at the May and October  meetings of the Committee.  
1.4.  The Committee's rules of procedure provide for observer status in the Committee for 
WTO Members that are not participants to the Ministerial Declaration, and governments that are 
observers to the Council for Trade in Goods. Requ ests for observer status by international 
intergovernmental organizations are considered on a case -by-case basis. The International Trade 
Centre (ITC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have been 
granted observer status, a nd the World Customs Organization  (WCO) has been granted observer 
status to meetings where issues of HS  classification and HS  amendments are included on the 
agenda.  
1.5.  The Committee continued its deliberations on the Non -Tariff Measures (NTMs) Work 
Programme in 2019. Regarding its work on the EMC/EMI  Pilot Project, the Committee took note that, 
among the 53  participants, 4 2 had provided survey responses and the Committee encouraged those 
that had not yet done so to provide the information without any further d elay. In considering ways 
to advance and expand its work on NTBs other than EMC/EMI, the Committee continued its 
discussions on the follow -up to the workshop held on 7  May 2015 on NTBs affecting trade in 
IT products and to the Symposium for the 20th  Annive rsary of the ITA held in June  2017. At the 
request of the Committee, the Chairperson undertook informal consultations with interested 
delegations to examine the recommendations and avenues that were suggested by industry 
representatives and such consultati ons will continue in 2020.  
1.6.  On classification divergences, regarding the Committee's Decision concerning the endorsement 
of the 18  List I -A items for Attachment  B (G/IT/27), the Secretariat has been approached by 
five ITA Participants for technical assistan ce. Regarding the Committee's Decision for the 
HS2007  classification of 15  additional "Attachment  B" products (G/IT/29), the Secretariat has been 
approached by one  Member for technical assistance. With regard to the possible 
HS2007  classification for the r emaining 22  "Attachment  B" items, the Secretariat has received 
comments from 21  delegations, which were compiled in document  G/IT/W/40 and its Addenda and 
Supplements.  G/L/1334  
 
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  1.7.  At the meeting of 14  May 2019, the Committee took note of the plurilateral negotiations and 
the result of an agreement on product expansion among some participants (WT/L/956 and 
WT/MIN(15)/25), and its implementation. The Committee agreed to revert to this matter at its future 
meetings.  
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