RESTRICTED  
  
TCA/M/31  
 
27 July 2015  
(15-3806)  Page: 1/3  
Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft    
 
 MINUTES OF THE MEETING 
HELD ON 15 JULY 2015 
CHAIRPERSON: MR HSIAO-YIN WU (CHINESE TAIPEI) 
1. The Chair referred to the proposed agenda contained in document WTO/AIR/TCA/1. 
No requests were made by Signatories for "O ther business" items. The Committee adopted the 
agenda contained in document WTO/AIR/TCA/1. 
1. REVISION OF THE PRODUCT COVERAGE ANNEX OF THE 1979 AGREEMENT ON 
TRADE IN CIVIL AIRCRAFT 
2. The Chair recalled that since November 2007, the Committee had been working to reach 
consensus on modifications to the Product Coverage Annex (PCA) of the Trade in Civil Aircraft 
Agreement ("TCA Agreement") to bring it into conformity with the Harmonized Coding and 
Description System that entered into force in 200 7. At the previous meeting on 4 November 2014, 
the Secretariat, upon his request, had provided to Signatories, for their consideration, a draft of 
the Protocol amending the PCA to the TCA Agreem ent, identifying the relevant sub-headings and 
summarizing the status of Signatories' comments as of 29 October 2014. Following that meeting, the Secretariat had received some additional comments from Signatories, while the Chair had also 
held discussions bilaterally with delegates to listen to their thoughts and concerns on the matter in 
as transparent a manner as possible. The Chair believed there were almost no differences between Signatories' views on the proposed modifications of the PCA. 
3. Based on that understanding, the Chair had asked the Secretariat to consolidate the various 
comments into a revised draft version of the Protocol amending the PCA. By letter of 15 June 2015 
he had requested all Signatories to comment on that final draft Protocol by cob 30 June 2015, indicating whether or not the changes proposed co uld be accepted. Most Signatories replied by cob 
30 June 2015 that they agreed with the proposed changes. One Signatory indicated that it could 
not indicate its acceptance by 30 June but would do so by 15 July and indeed that Signatory sent its comments on 13 July which the Secretariat conveyed immediately to all Signatories for their 
reflection and asked Signatories to try to have a position on the latest comments by today's 
meeting.  
4. Finally, the Chair noted that he had asked the Secretariat to prepare for today's meeting a 
final version of the Protocol incorporating all comments received from all Signatories through 
13 July 2015 as well as some modifications made by the Secretariat in the first paragraphs of the 
Protocol concerning the way and timeline of accepting the revised Protocol. The Chair asked Signatories whether there was consensus on the proposed changes and on the date that the new 
Protocol would enter into force. 
5. The United States stated that it had submitted some comments on 13 July, including some 
suggestions for the description of HS heading 3917; however, following discussions with other 
Signatories, the United States elected to withdraw that particular suggestion. Looking through at 
the draft distributed at the meeting, the Unit ed States confirmed that the revised Annex 
incorporated all the other US suggestions and could thus confirm that it found the content of this revised Annex acceptable.  
6. With regard to the draft Protocol's prefatory paragraphs relating to entry into force, the 
United States noted that it understood well the issue and what the proposed changes attempted to TCA/M/31 
 
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  address; however, it would come back to the Committee in a few days after capital colleagues had 
the time to see the new language proposed. 
7. The European Union stated that, on a preliminary basis and pending on its internal decision-
making procedure, it was also able to sign up to a consensus on the content of the revised Annex.  
8. As far as the draft Protocol's first preamble page was concerned, the European Union agreed 
with the United States that it would be good to have a couple of days to consult with capital and come back with a final response. 
9. Chinese Taipei stated that it also found a cceptable the content of the revised Annex and 
would only need to consult capital regarding the small changes proposed in the prefatory language 
of the draft Protocol. 
10. Canada stated that the revised Annex was agreeable to it; as for the draft Protocol's 
prefatory language, Canada would check with capital and revert to the Committee shortly. 
11. Switzerland also confirmed that it needed a few days to confirm with capital the proposed 
changes in the draft Protocol. 
12. Japan stated that it could also join consensu s on the context of the Annex and would need a 
few days to confirm its views on the suggested prefatory language. 
13. The Chair suggested then that Signatories agree,  in principle, on the proposed modifications 
to the 2015 Protocol amending the Product Covera ge Annex of the TCA Agreement, and that the 
Protocol would enter into force on 1 January 2016 , subject to confirmation from the Signatories 
who had not yet received appropriate mandate to adopt the protocol. As soon as the Chair received from such Signatories that confirmation, he would immediately call another meeting of 
the Committee to formally adopt the proposed Protocol. He expected such meeting to take place in 
September. In the meantime, he suggested that the Secretariat circulate a clean version of the 
revised draft Protocol, with the changes accepted and without any track changes or explanations of 
the changes, reflecting Signatories' in principle agreement.  
14. Switzerland asked if there was a deadline for Signatories to come back to the Committee or 
whether the Committee would proceed to an ad referendum adoption. 
15. The Chair invited the Secretariat to respond to Switzerland. 
16. The Secretariat clarified that there was no deadline for Signatories to come back with their 
confirmation about the prefatory language, although Signatories were encouraged to reply as soon 
as possible so that they could adopt the draft Pr otocol at the next meeting of the Committee in 
November 2015. 
17. Egypt observed that if Signatories had no deadline and they could reply by the next 
meeting, and if some Signatories had further comments on the current draft Protocol it would be 
difficult to adopt it at the next regular meeting in November.  
18. The Chair invited the Secretariat to respond. 
19. The Secretariat recalled that the Chair had sent a fax on 15 June 2015 requesting all 
Signatories to provide final comments on the draft Protocol by 30 June 2015, with most 
Signatories having replied on time. One Signatory sent its comments on 13 July 2015. The Secretariat had forwarded immediately by email those last few comments to all Signatories for their consideration in view of today's meeting. The Secretariat understood that Signatories had 
already expressed their final views on the content of the proposed modifications in the revised 
Annex. The additional time requested today by some  Signatories was only for them to consult their 
capitals regarding the suggested changes on the pr efatory language of the first page of the draft 
Protocol, considering that such suggested changes were presented by the Secretariat for the first 
time in today's meeting. TCA/M/31 
 
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  20. Egypt noted that it was not in a position to state if it accepted, in principle, the draft Protocol 
and would need to consult with capital which was still working on this issue and would need to 
send to capital this last version of the draft Protocol for consultation. As soon as capital colleagues returned with comments, Egypt would convey to the Secretariat any such comments and 
Signatories could discuss them on the next meeting. 
21. The European Union noted that it saw two diff erent issues. First, Signatories needed a few 
days to consult capitals about the first prefatory page because it was new language and 
Signatories could confirm their agreement on that new language before the summer recess. 
Secondly, regarding the content of the revised Annex, the European Union agreed with the understanding of the Secretariat that there was emerging consensus on that.  
22. Egypt stated that it could not accept, in principle, the content of the revised Annex at the 
moment because it needed to send the document to capital for further comments. Egypt 
suggested that another meeting could be held in September.  
23. Switzerland agreed with the Egyptian propos al of having an intermediate meeting in 
September at which time Signatories could prov ide final comments on the proposed amendments 
and, if so, agree, in principle, on the 2015 Protoc ol. Thereafter, Signatories could come to the next 
regular meeting of November to adopt formally the 2015 Protocol.  
24. The Chair asked all Signatories if they could re ply to him or to the Secretariat by 30 August 
2015 in relation to any final comments on the proposed draft Protocol revising the PCA.  
25. Egypt asked if the deadline could be pushed back to end September 2015. 
26. The Chair then proposed that, following the me eting the Secretariat would circulate by fax 
the draft Protocol amending the PCA as it stood  today and, all Signatories would confirm their 
positions on the proposed draft Protocol by 15 September 2015.  
27. The European Union regretted this further delay in the process. For its own internal decision-
making process, it needed a consolidated docume nt reflecting Signatories' common understanding 
on the content of the Annex and on the first page of the Protocol, on the basis of which it would 
make a proposal to the EU Council and would seek the appropriate mandate from Member States 
to adopt formally the revised Protocol amending the Annex.  
28. The Committee agreed  to the Chair's proposal and took note  of the statements made. 
2. OTHER BUSINESS 
29. There were no items under this agenda item. 
30. The United States stated that considering that 2015 was the fourth year of the HS2012 
nomenclature and only one and a half years be fore the adoption and implementation of the 
HS2017 nomenclature in most national schedules, the Committee could consider agreeing to move 
ahead expeditiously with the HS2012 exercise for the Annex. 
31. The Committee took note  of the US statement. 
3. DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING 
32. The Committee confirmed that its next regular meeting would be held on Thursday, 5 
November 2015, without excluding the need for the Chair to call a meeting of the Committee in 
September 2015 so that Signatories may agree, in principle, on the draft Protocol. 
33. The meeting was adjourned . 
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