G/IT/W/58  
 
7 March  2024 
(24-2138) Page: 1/2 
Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in 
Information Technology Products  Original: English  
 
A PROPOSAL TO ENHANCE THE FUNCTIONING AND RELEVANCE OF ITA  
COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA  
The following communication, dated 5  March  2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of China.  
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  Trade in information and communication technology (ICT)  products is a major component of 
global trade, a key driver of global economic growth, and an important catalyst for technology 
diffusion. It has also made significant contributions to the integration of small  and medium -sized 
enterprises into global value chains, and to the response to global challenges ranging from the 
COVID -19 pandemic to climate change.  
1.2.  Robust ICT  trade rests upon the successful functioning of the ITA and ITA  Expansion 
(hereinafter "the Agr eements"), which provide the basis for an open, transparent, and predictable 
global trading environment for ICT  products. The conclusion and implementation of the Agreements 
has greatly increased trade in ICT  products and the diffusion of relevant technolo gies, making 
ICT products one of the most globally accessible and affordable products today.  
1.3.  In the meantime, rapid developments in the global ICT  sector also pose new challenges to the 
implementation of the Agreements. On the one hand, innovation has led to new ICT  products and 
technologies, which has further complicated the revisions and updates of the product tariff 
classifications covered by the Agreements. On the other hand, the new ICT  products and 
technologies also raise questions about how the Agree ments and the ITA  Committee's work could 
continuously reflect the reality of such a fast -changing industry and bring more concrete benefits to 
its participants.  
1.4.  The ITA  Committee (hereinafter, "the Committee") has an important role to play in the 
successfu l functioning of the Agreements. WTO  Members have been discussing ways to improve the 
functioning of the various WTO  bodies. In this context, China puts forward its proposal to advance 
the work in the ITA  Committee with a view to enhancing both the functio ning and the relevance of 
the Agreements.  
2  PROPOSALS  
2.1  Hold Annual Symposiums to Deepen Understanding of the Global ICT  Sector  
2.1.  At the Committee's meeting of 29  March  2023, ITA  Participants warmly welcomed the 
Secretariat's presentation on recent trends in ITA  trade ( RD/IT/54 ) and encouraged the Secretariat 
to carry out further such analysis. In light of this, China proposes that the Secretariat prepare annual 
reports on the latest developments in the global trade in ITA  products.  
2.2.  Given the positive feedback from ITA  Participants to various past ITA  symposia and workshops, 
China proposes that, in conjunction with the release of the above -mentioned report, the Committee 
organize an annual symposium where industry representatives and stakeholders may be invited to G/IT/W/58  
 
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  share their information and views on the latest developments in the ICT  sector, to discuss the 
benefits of joining the Agreements, and to encourage more WTO  Members to participate in the 
Agreements.  
2.2  Enhance Information -Sharing on Implementation of the Agreements  
2.3.  Recognizing multiple difficulties and challenges facing the Participants during their 
implementation of the Agreements, including updating the ITA  national tariff codes in line with new 
editions of the Harmonized System, China proposes that the Committee enhance its information and 
experience -sharing among ITA  Participants concerning such challenges with a view to exploring 
possible solutions and Secretariat -delivered technical assistance.  
2.4.  Updating the model list of ITA  products not only helps IT A Participants to foster a deeper 
understanding of the impact of global ICT  sector developments on the implementation and relevance 
of the Agreements, but also provides certainty and predictability for international trade by avoiding 
potential trade disput es arising from the HS  transposition of ITA  national tariff codes. To this end, 
China proposes that, based on past practices in 2007 and 20201, the Secretariat regularly update 
the model list of products covered by the Agreements, using HS2022 and any sub sequent new 
edition of the Harmonized System, in consultation with ITA  Participants and the World Customs 
Organization. The model list should endeavour to reflect the changes and challenges in tariff 
classification of ITA  products, resulting from the lates t developments in the ICT  sector and the 
introduction of new editions of the Harmonized System.  
2.3  Strengthen Cooperation on Non -Tariff Measures (NTMs)  
2.5.  Apart from tariff elimination, the removal and streamlining of non -tariff barriers is also an 
important par t of the Agreements. The Committee has been discussing NTMs for many years, in line 
with the mandate of the Agreements, and has made some progress in this regard.  
2.6.  Considering the growing impact of NTMs on the trade in ICT  products, China proposes that the 
Committee consider how to move the relevant work forward and enhance cooperation on NTMs, 
taking into account past experience, progress, and the work being done in other WTO  bodies, such 
as the TBT  Committee.  
2.7.  To kickstart the workstream on NTMs, China prop oses that the Secretariat prepare an 
information note on the current state of play in the Committee's work on NTMs with a view to 
refreshing ITA  Participants' memory and knowledge. Follow -up informal discussions could 
subsequently be organized, if necessar y, to seek various ways to move relevant work forward and 
explore possible new areas that ITA  Participants may be interested in pursuing regarding NTMs in 
the context of the Agreements.  
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1 Please refer to room document JOB(07) /96 on "HS  2007 amendments in relation to ITA products and a 
model list in HS 2007" and JOB/IT/25  on a model list in HS  2012, and HS  2017 in relation to ITA  products.