WT/GC/W/740  
 
12 January 2018  
(18-0377) Page: 1/5 
General Council    
 
WAIVERS – 20171 
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT2 
The attached table has been prepared for the information of delegations. It contains a list of 
waivers grante d by the General Council in 2017 , as well as waivers previously gr anted and still in 
force in 201 7. It sho uld be noted that some of these waivers expired during the course of the year.  
 
_______________  
 
                                                
1 A list of waivers grante d by the General Council and by the Min isterial Conference between 1995 and 
2015 is contained in WT/GC/W/ 718. 
2 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/740  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20173 
Granted in 2017  
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Sch edules of 
Tariff Concessions4 WT/L/ 1026 30 November  2017 31 December 2018  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions5 WT/L/ 1027 30 November 2017  31 December 2018  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Chan ges into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions6 WT/L/ 1028 30 November 2017  31 December 2018  - 
Introd uction of Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions7 WT/L/ 1029 30 November 2017  31 December 2018  - 
                                                
3 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.  
4 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina and  China . 
5 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Malaysia; Philippines; 
Switzerland; and Thailand . 
6 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Br azil; Canada; China; Colombia; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; El 
Salvador; European Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Israel ; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; 
Pakistan;  Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiw an, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; and United States.  
7 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic 
(WT/L/1029/Add. 2); El Salvador; Europ ean Union; Guatemala;  Honduras (WT/L/1029/Add.1);  Hong K ong, China;  India; Israel; Kazakhstan;  Korea, Republic of;  Macao, China; 
Montenegro;  New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen a nd Matsu;  Thailand;  United 
States ; and Uruguay.   
  WT/GC/W/740  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE o f 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20178 
Previ ously granted – in force in 2017  
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions9 WT/L/996  7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
Introduction of Harmonized  System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions10 WT/L/997  7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions11 WT/L/ 998 7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
Introd uction o f Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions12 WT/L/ 999 7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/1000  7 December 2016  31 December 2026  WT/L/1018  
United States – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal  WT/L/1001  7 December 2016  31 December 2025  WT/L/1021  
European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to 
the Western Balkans  WT/L/1002  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  WT/L/1019  
Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extens ion of waiver  WT/L/1003  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  WT/L/1023  
 
                                                
8 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.  
9 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina;  China;  and European Union.  
10 The Members which have reque sted to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Israel; Malaysia; Mexico; New 
Zealand; Philippines; Switzerland; and Thailand . 
11 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Br azil; Canada; China; Colombia; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; El 
Salvador; European Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Israel ; Kazakhstan (WT/L/998/Add.1);  Korea, Republic of; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; New 
Zealand; Norway; Pakistan;  Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; and United 
States.  
12 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina ; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica;  El Salvador; Europ ean Union;  
Guatemala (WT/L/999/Add.3 ); Hong K ong, China;  India (WT/L/999/Add.8 ); Israel (WT/L/999/Add.4 ); Kazakhstan (WT/L/999/Add.7 ); Korea, Republic of; Macao, China 
(WT/L/999/Add.1);  Monte negro (WT/L/999/Add.5 ); New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan (WT/L/999/Add.6 ); Paraguay; Russian Federation ; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand (WT/L/999/Add.2); United States ; and Uruguay .  
  WT/GC/W/740  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
201713 
Previ ously granted – in force in 2017  
Implementation of Preferential Treatment in favour of Services a nd 
Service Suppliers of LDCs and Increasing LDC Participation in Services 
Trade14 WT/L/982  
WT/MIN(15)/48  19 December 2015  31 December 
203015 - 
United States – African Growth and Opportunity A ct WT/L/970  30 November 2015  30 September 
2025 WT/L/1006, 
WT/L/10 17 
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 - 
Canada - CARIBCAN  WT/L/958  28 July 2015  31 December  2023 WT/L/ 1013 
United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery A ct WT/L/950  5 May 2015  31 December  2019 WT/L/1012  
Philippines – Special Treatment for Rice  WT/L/932  24 July 2014  30 June 2017  - 
Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to  
Services and Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries16 WT/MIN(13)/43  
WT/L/918  7 December 2013  - - 
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds - Extension of 
Waiver17 WT/L/876  11 December 2012  31 December 2018  - 
                                                
13 Applicable if so sti pulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.  
14 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) and of the subsequent Dec ision on the Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Suppliers of Least -developed 
countrie s adopted in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43  - WT/L/918).  See also page 5 , below.  
15 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Min isters decided to extend the  2011 waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed 
Countries  (WT/L/847 ). See also page 5, below.  
16 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiver on Preferential Treat ment 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 . 
17 Annex: Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, European Union, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russian Federation, 
Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Turkey, United States, and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.   
  WT/GC/W/740  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
201713 
Previ ously granted – in force in 2017  
Preferential Treatment t o Services  and Service Suppliers of Least -
developed countries18 WT/L/847  17 December 2011  15 years from the 
date of its 
adoption19 - 
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least -Developed Countries – Decision on 
Extension of waiver  WT/L/759  27 May 2009  30 June 2 019 - 
Implementation of Para. 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 
Agreement and Public Health20 WT/L/540 and 
WT/L/540/ Corr.1  30 August 2003  See WT/L/540 and 
WT/L/540/ Corr.1  - 
 
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18 Two decisions were subsequently adopted by the Ministerial Confer ence in furtherance of this waiver: in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918) and in 2015 (WT/MIN(15) /48 
– WT/L/982). S ee also page 4  and the decision  in WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918 , above . 
19 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the wai ver until 31 December 2030  (WT/MIN(15)/ 48 – WT/L/982) - see also page 4 , above.  
20 Pursuant to the General Council Decision of 30 August 2003 (WT/L/540 and Corr.1), a Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement was  adopted by the General Council on 
6 December 200 5 (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 o ther Member, the Protocol will 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 Ann ual Review of the Special Compulsory Licensing 
System is deemed to fulfi l the review requirements of Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement.