WT/GC/W/729  
 
20 December  2016 
(16-6959) Page: 1/4 
General Council    
 
WAIVERS – 20161 
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 2016 , as well as waivers previously gr anted and still in 
force in 201 6. It sho uld be noted that some of these waivers expired during the course of the year.  
 
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1 A list of waivers grante d by General  Council and by the Ministerial 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 obligatio ns under the WTO.   
  WT/GC/W/729  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20163 
Granted in 2016  
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Sch edules of 
Tariff Concessions4 WT/L/996  7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions5 WT/L/997  7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions6 WT/L/ 998 7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
Introd uction of Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions7 WT/L/ 999 7 December 2016  31 December 2017  - 
United States – Former  Trust Terri tory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/1000  7 December 2016  31 December 2026  - 
United States – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal  WT/L/1001  7 December 2016  31 December 2025  - 
European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to 
the Western Balk ans WT/L/1002  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  - 
Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver  WT/L/1003  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  - 
 
                                                
3 Applicable if so stipulated in the corresponding waiver Decision.  
4 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina;  China;  and, European Union.  
5 The Members which have requested to be covered under this  waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Israel; Malaysia; Mexico; New 
Zealand; 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 ; 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.  
7 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica;  El Salvad or; Europ ean Union; Hong 
Kong, China; Korea, Republic of; New Zealand; Norway; Paraguay; Russian Federation ; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; United 
States ; and, Uruguay .  
  WT/GC/W/729  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20168 
Previ ously granted – in force in 2016  
Implementation of Preferential Treatment in favour of Services and 
Service Suppliers of LDCs and Increasing LDC Participation in Services 
Trade9 WT/L/982  
WT/MIN(15)/48  19 December 2015  31 December 
203010 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Chan ges into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions11 WT/L/967  30 November 2015  31 December 2016  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions12 WT/L/968  30 November 2015  31 December 2016  - 
Introduction of Harmonized Sy stem 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions13 WT/L/969  30 November 2015  31 December 2016  - 
United States – African Growth and Opportunity A ct WT/L/970  30 November 2015  30 September 
2025 - 
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/987  
United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery A ct WT/L/950  5 May 2015  31 December  2019 WT/L/988  
                                                
8 Applicable if so stipulated in the corr esponding waiver Decision.  
9 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 Decision on the Operat ionalization 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 4 , below.  
10 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to e xtend the  2011 waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -developed 
Countries  (WT/L/847 ). See also page 4, below.  
11 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina;  China;  and, European Union . 
12 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; European Union; Israel; Korea; 
Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Switzerland; and, Thailand . 
13 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; 
European Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Israel ; 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.   
  WT/GC/W/729  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20168 
Previ ously granted – in force in 2016  
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 Countri es14 WT/MIN(13)/43  
WT/L/918  7 December 2013  - - 
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds - Extension of 
Waiver15 WT/L/876  11 December 2012  31 December 2018  - 
Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver  WT/L/850  14 February 2012  31 December 20 16 WT/L/994  
Preferential Treatment to Services  and Service Suppliers of Least -
developed countries16 WT/L/847  17 December 2011  15 years from the 
date of its 
adoption17 - 
European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to 
the Western Balkan s WT/L/836  30 November 2011  31 December 2016  WT/L/993  
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least -Developed Countries – Decision on 
Extension of waiver  WT/L/759  27 May 2009  30 June 2019  - 
United States – Former  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/69 4 27 July 2007  31 December 2016  WT/L/990 and 
Corr.1  
Implementation of Para. 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 
Agreement and Public Health  WT/L/540 and 
Corr.1  30 August 2003  See WT/L/540 and 
Corr.1  - 
 
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14 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiv er on Preferential Treatment 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 3 and the decision in WT/L/847 , below . 
15 Annex: Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, C roatia, 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.  
16 Two decisions were subsequently adopted b y the Ministerial Conference 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 3 and the decision  in WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918 , above .  
17 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the waiver until 31 December 2030  (WT/MIN(15)/48 – WT/L/982) - see also page 2, above.