G/L/1278  
 
5 November 2018  
(18-6914) Page: 1/2 
   
 
REPORT (2018) OF THE  COMMITTEE OF PARTIC IPANTS ON THE EXPANS ION 
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 (W T/MIN(96)/16), hereinafter 
referred to as "the Ministerial Declaration", and the provisions for the Implementation of the 
Ministerial Declaration 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 2018: on 17  May and 30  October. The minutes 
of these meetings are contained in documents  G/IT/M/68 and G/IT/M/69. Mr  Muhammad Nur Hadri 
Bin SOPRI (Singapore) was elect ed Chairman of the Committee for 2018.  
1.3.  The total number of WTO  Members that are participants to the Ministerial Declaration is 82. 
The Committee has consistently reviewed the status of implementation, a summary of which is 
provided in document  G/IT/1 and i ts 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 cert ified by the Director -General. Two implementation issues, concerning India and China, 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. Requests 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, and the World Customs Organization  (WCO) has been granted observer 
status to meetings where issues of HS  classific ation and HS  amendments are included on the 
agenda.  
1.5.  The Committee continued its deliberations on the Non -Tariff Measures (NTMs) Work 
Programme in 2018. With regard to its work on the EMC/EMI  Pilot Project, the Committee took note 
that, among the 53  partici pants, 39 had provided survey responses and the Committee encouraged 
those that had not yet done so to provide the information without any further delay. 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 Anniversary of the ITA held in June  2017. At the 
request of the Committee, the Chairperson undertook informal cons ultations with interested 
delegations to examine the recommendations and avenues that were suggested by industry 
representatives and such consultations will continue in 2019.  
1.6.  On classification divergences, with regard to 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 assistance. With regard to 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 remaining 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/1278  
 
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  1.7.  At the meetings of 17  May and 30  October  2018, 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 thi s 
matter at its future meetings . 
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