RESTRICTED  
  
WT/PCTF/M/13  
 
7 March 2016  
(16-1305)  Page: 1/2  
Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation    
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 
HELD IN THE CENTRE WILL IAM RAPPARD 3 MARCH 2016 
Chairman: H.E. Mr. Esteban Conejos (Philippines) 
 
  
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The Chairman recalled that the proposed ag enda had been circulated in WTO/AIR/PCTF/4. As 
delegations would have noticed from the convening airgram, the Committee had several items to 
address.  
1.2.  First, it would formally receive the notifi cations of category commitments that Members had 
submitted since the Committee's last meeting. That  would be followed by an informal working 
session where delegations would be updated on (i) the state of notifications more broadly, with a 
particular focus on category B and C submissions, (ii) progress with respect to the ratification 
process, and (iii) several Secretariat activities, including work on the notifications database, the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility website and other recent and prospective initiatives. 
1.3.  The agenda was adopted. 
2  RECEIPT OF CATEGORY NOTIFICATIONS 
2.1.  The Chairman informed that the Committee had received several new category submissions 
since it had last met.   
2.2.  The list of new notifications covere d submissions from the following Members:  
Nepal (WT/PCTF/N/NPL/1), Samoa (WT/PCTF/N/SAM /1), Bahrain (WT/PCTF/N/BHR/1), Suriname 
(WT/PCTF/N/SUR/1), Guyana (WT/PCTF/N/GUY /1), Zambia (WT/PCTF/N/ZMB/1) Georgia 
(WT/PCTF/N/GEO/1), Solomon Islands (WT/PCTF/N/SLB/1) and Kazakhstan (WT/PCTF/N/KAZ/1).   
2.3.  The Committee received those notifications.  
2.4.  The Chairman reported that the overall num ber of category A notifications had grown to a 
current total of 81, which was excellent news. What  was even more encouraging was that the 
Committee had also started receiving a growing number of category B and C notifications. That was especially important since one was getting closer to seeing the Trade Facilitation Agreement enter into force – which equally shortened the remaining time for submitting category B and 
C-related input.   
2.5.  The Secretariat had received several requests for assistance in that regard, and would brief 
Members on its response.  The Secretariat would also update delegations on where one stood 
more broadly with respect to category notifications overall.  
2.6.  The Committee took note of the Chairman's report.  WT/PCTF/M/13 
 
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  3  INFORMAL OPEN-ENDED WORKING SESSION 
3.1.  This part of the meeting covered an update by the Secretariat on (i) the latest state-of-play 
with respect to (i) category A, B and C notifi cations, (ii) the acceptance of the amendment 
protocol, and (iii) work related to the notifications database, the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
Facility website and other past and prospective ac tivities. It was conducted in informal mode.  
3.2.  The Committee took note of the statements made. 
4  OTHER BUSINESS 
4.1.  The Chairman proposed 9 June as the date of the subsequent Preparatory Committee 
meeting. Details on the meeting and its agenda would be communicated in due course.  
4.2.  It was so agreed. 
4.3.  The Preparatory Committee took note of the statements made.    
4.4.  The meeting was adjourned. 
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