G/C/W/687  
 
9 October 2013  
(13-5505)  Page: 1/7  
  
 
REPORT (2013) OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
 In accordance with the "Procedures for an Annual Overview of WTO Activities and for 
Reporting under the WTO" (WT/L/105), the Council for Trade in Goods is to report each year to the 
General Council on the activities in the Council as well as in the subsidiary bodies.  The reports are 
to be "factual in nature, containing an indication of actions and decisions taken, with cross references to reports of subordinate bodies an d could follow the model of the GATT 1947 Council 
reports to the CONTRACTING PARTIES". 
 Since its 2012 Annual Report (G/L/1018) was issued, the Council for Trade in Goods met 
[four] times in formal session on the follow ing dates: 25 March 2013 (G/C/M/113); 11 July 2013 
(G/C/M/114); 23 September 2013 (G/C/M/115); [and 18 October 2013 (G/M/116)]. 
 The subject matters which were raised and/or  acted upon in the Council are as follows: 
1. Election of Chairperson; 
2. Appointment of Officers; 
3. Matters of the Committee on Market Access; 
4. Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement; 5. European Union Enlargement; 
6. Notification of Regional Trade Agreements; 
7. Notifications:  
- Status of notifications under the provisions of the Agreements in Annex 1A of the 
WTO Agreement; 
8. Brazil - Indirect Taxation: Conditions to Obtain Tax Benefits in Various Sectors – Statements 
 by the European Union and Japan; 9. Indonesia's Import Restricting Policies and Practices – Request from the European Union and 
 the United States; 
10. Ukraine - Import Tariffs on Automobiles; 11. Ukraine's Article XXVIII Notification; 
12. Ukraine's Coking-Coal Import Quota - Request from the European Union and the 
United States; 
13. Russian Federation - Implementati on of WTO Accession Commitments; 
14. Japan - Wood Use Points Programme; 
15. Nigeria - Local Content Measures in Oil and Gas - Request from the European Union and the 
 United States; 16. [European Union - The EU Renewable Energy Directive - Request from Indonesia]; 
17. [Gabon - Schedule XLVII: Renegotiatio ns under GATT Article XXVIII:4 (G/SECRET/36)]; 
18. [Ukraine - Recycling Fees on Cars - Request from the European Union]; 19. [Russian Federation - Measures Affectin g EU Imports into Russia - Request from the 
 European Union]; 
20. [Nigeria - Restriction / Ban Imposed by Nigeria to Imports of Sea Products - Request by  Iceland, Norway and Uruguay]; 21. Work Programme on Electronic Commerce;  
22. Consideration of Annual Reports of Subsidiary Bodies; and 
23. Adoption of the Annual Report of the Council for Trade in Goods to the General Council. G/C/W/687 
 
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  1  ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON FOR THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS   
1.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, the Council elected Ambassador Moncef BAATI (Tunisia) as its 
Chairperson for 2013.  1.2.  Following the departure of Ambassador B aati from Geneva, the meeting on 11 July was 
conducted by Ambassador Joakim REITER (Sweden) as interim Chairperson.  
1.3.  At the meeting on 23 September and follow ing the consultation process undertaken by the 
Chairperson of the General Council, the CTG elec ted Ambassador Dacio CASTILLO (Honduras), as 
its Chairperson for the remaining period of 2013.   
2  APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR THE SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE COUNCIL  
2.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, the Council agreed on the nominations of the following persons as 
Chairpersons of its subsidiary bodies for 2013: 
Subsidiary Body Chairperson 
Market Access Mr. Krzysztof TREPCZYNSKI (Poland) 
Agriculture Mr. Guilherme MARQUARDT BAYER (Brazil)  
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Ms . Maria Araceli ALBARECE (Philippines) 
Technical Barriers to Trade Mr. Jingo KIKUKAWA (Japan) 
TRIMs Mr. Tsotetsi MAKONG (Lesotho) 
Anti-Dumping Practices Ms. Parima DAMRITHAMANIJ (Thailand) 
Subsidies and Countervailin g Measures Mr. Marcus BARTLEY JOHNS (Australia) 
Safeguards Mr. Alex Yun-hsing NI (Chinese Taipei) 
Import Licensing Mr. Xiankun LU (China) 
Rules of Origin Mr. Marhijn VISSER (Netherlands) 
Customs Valuation Mr. Pierre-Emmanuel BRUSSELMANS (Belgium) 
State Trading Enterprises Mr. Humberto JIMENEZ TORRES (Ecuador) 
Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade 
in Information Technology Products (ITA Committee) Mr. Aaron FOWLER (Canada) 
 
2.2.  At the same meeting, the Council agreed to proceed on the understanding that as concerns the 
Vice-Chairpersons, it would be for the subsidiary bodies to decide if they needed a Vice-Chairperson 
in cases where the option existed under the respective Agreement and/or rules of procedure, and for the respective Chairperson to hold the necessary consultations. 
3  MATTERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS  
3.1.   At its meeting of 11 July, the Council consid ered and approved the draft decision on the 
"Derestriction of some GATT 1947 Historical Bilateral Negotiating Documentation" concerning the 
Dillon Round and some negotiating material of the earlier GATT Rounds contained in 
document G/MA/W/111/Rev.1, which was previous ly discussed and approved by the Committee on 
Market Access on 7 May 2013. This Decision once approved was forwarded to the General Council for adoption.  
3.2.   [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered three collective waiver requests on the 
introduction of Harmonized System 2002, 2007 and 2012 changes into WTO Schedules of 
Concessions (See Point 4 below).]  G/C/W/687 
 
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  4  WAIVERS UNDER ARTICLE IX OF THE WTO AGREEMENT  
[Introduction of Harmonized System 2002  changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions: 
Collective request for a waiver extension (G/C/W/682) 
4.1.  At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered a collective request for an extension of 
the waiver in connection with the introduc tion of HS2002 changes to the Schedules of 
Concessions. The Council approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision 
(G/C/W/682) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.] 
[Introduction of Harmonized System 2007  changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions: 
Collective request for a waiver extension (G/C/W/683) 
4.2.  At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered a collective request for an extension of 
the waiver in connection with the introduction of HS 2007 changes to the Schedules of 
Concessions. The Council approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision 
(G/C/W/683) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.]  
[Introduction of Harmonized System 2012  changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff 
Concessions: 
Collective request for a waiver (G/C/W/684/Rev.1) 
4.3.  At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered a collective request for a waiver in 
connection with the introduction of HS 2012 changes to the Schedules of Concessions.  
The Council approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision 
(G/C/W/684/Rev.1) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.] 
Philippines – Request for a Waiver relating to Special Treatment for Rice of the 
Philippines (G/C/W/665/Rev.1) [; and G/C/W/665/Rev.2)]: 
4.4.   At its meetings of 25 March and 11 July, the Philippines informed the Council on the further 
consultations and discussions it had held with interested delegations on this issue. The Council 
took note of the statements made on 25 March by Australia, Canada, China, El Salvador, India, 
Indonesia and Thailand regarding their concerns, discussions and negotiations with the Philippines 
on this issue. At its meeting of 11 June, it also  took note of the statements made by Australia, 
Canada, China, Thailand and the United States. The Council also agreed to revert to this issue. 
4.5.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Philippines introduced document G/C/W/665/Rev.2 
containing a revised waiver request and a revised draft waiver decision, and informed the Council 
on the discussions it had held with interested  delegations. The Council [took note of the 
statements made by [ , ,  , and]  [and] [agreed to revert to this issue at its next meeting] 
[approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision (G/C/W/665/Rev.2) be 
forwarded to the General Council for adoption.]] 
[European Union – Request for an Extensio n of the Waiver for the Application of 
Autonomous Preferential Treatm ent to Moldova (G/C/W/688)]: 
4.6.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered document G/C/W/688 containing the 
waiver request and the draft waiver decision subm itted by the European Union for an extension of 
the Waiver for the Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to Moldova. The Council 
approved the waiver request and recommended that  the draft decision (G/C/W/688) be forwarded 
to the General Council for adoption.] G/C/W/687 
 
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  5  EUROPEAN UNION ENLARG EMENT:  PROCEDURES UNDE R ARTICLE XXVIII:3 OF GATT 
1994 (G/L/695/ADD.17;  G/L/821/ADD.12;  [G/L/821/ADD.13; AND G/SECRET/35]) 
5.1.   At its meeting of 25 March, the Council agreed to the extension of the deadlines set out in 
the communications from the European Unio n (G/L/695/Add.17; and G/L/821/Add.12).   
5.2.   [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by the 
European Union on its enlargements of 1 January 2007, and of 1 September 2013. … .]  
6  NOTIFICATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  
6.1.   At its meetings on 25 March, 11 July and 18 October,  the Council was informed of the 
following notifications on regional trade agreements:  
- Customs Union between the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan 
(WT/REG325/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between the Russian Federation and Serbia (WT/REG326/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between the Russian federation and Uzbekistan 
(WT/REG327/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between the Ru ssian Federation and Turkmenistan 
(WT/REG328/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between Chil e and Malaysia (WT/REG330/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between Nicaragua and Panama (WT/REG331/N/1); 
- Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America 
(WT/REG332/N/1); 
- Trade Agreement between the European Un ion, Colombia and Peru(WT/REG333/N/1); 
- Free Trade agreement between Canada and Panama (WT/REG334/N/1); 
- Free Trade agreement between Canada and Jordan (WT/REG335/N/1); - Bilateral Protocol between Panama and Guatemala to the Free Trade Treaty between 
Central America and Panama (WT/REG336/N/1/Rev.1); 
- Enlargement of the European Union to 28 member States - Accession of Croatia 
(WT/REG337/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Montenegro (WT/REG338/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between the Republic  of Korea and Turkey (WT/REG339/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between Malaysia and Australia (WT/REG340/N/1); - Free Trade Agreement between Turkey  and Mauritius (WT/REG341/N/1); 
- Free Trade Agreement between Costa Rica and Peru (WT/REG342/N/1); 
- Treaty on a Free Trade Area between me mbers of the Commonwealth of Independent 
States (WT/REG343/N/1); 
- Bilateral Protocol between Chile and Nica ragua to the Free Trade Treaty between -
Central America and Chile (WT/REG344/N/1); 
- [Free Trade agreement between Mexico and Uruguay (WT/REG345/N/1)]; and 
- [Free Trade agreement between Costa Rica and Singapore (WT/REG347/N/1)]. 
7  NOTIFICATIONS - Status of notifications under the provisio ns of the Agreements in Annex 1A of the 
WTO Agreement 
7.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, the Council took  note of the latest revision of the status of 
notifications contained in document G/L/223/Rev.20.   
7.2.  On the revised format to reduce the length of the current document (RD/CTG/1) as a means 
to find the right balance between transparency and the cost saving recommendations endorsed by 
the General Council in November 2011, the Council agreed to revert to this issue at its next meeting when Australia and Japan would have fu rther explored and discussed, with interested 
delegations, other possible options.  G/C/W/687 
 
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  7.3.  At its meeting of 11 July, the Chairperson informed delegations that Australia and Japan had 
indicated that they continued to explore and discuss ideas with a view to suggesting some 
pertinent changes to the notification form at the October 2013 meeting. The Council agreed to revert to this issue at its next meeting under Agenda Item "Other Business".  
7.4.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Chairperson informed the Council  … .]. 
8  BRAZIL – INDIRECT TAXATION: CONDITIO NS TO OBTAIN TAX BENEFITS IN VARIOUS 
SECTORS – STATEMENTS BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND JAPAN   
8.1.  At its meeting of 25 March and 11 July, the Council took note of the statements made by 
Australia; Canada; the European Union; Hong Kong, China; Japan; and the United States, and of 
the responses from Brazil on its tax system measures. 
8.2.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of … .] 
9  INDONESIA'S IMPORT RESTRICTING POLI CIES AND PRACTICES – REQUEST FROM THE 
EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES  
9.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, the Council took note of the statements made by Argentina; 
Australia; Canada; the European Union; Japan; Thailand; and the United States reiterating their 
continued concerns about Indonesia's import licensing requirements. The Council also took note of the responses by Indonesia.   
9.2.  At its meeting of 11 July, the Council took  note of the statements made by Australia; 
Canada; the European Union; Hong Kong, China;  Japan; New Zealand; Thailand; the United 
States; and Uruguay on their continued concerns about Indonesia's new trade and investment measures, including import licensing procedures. It also took note of Indonesia's responses.  
9.3.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of … .] 
10  UKRAINE – IMPORT TARIFFS ON AUTOMOBILES  
10.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, at the requ est of the delegation of the European Union, 
the Council considered this issue and took note of the statements made by the Canada, 
the European Union, Japan; Korea and the United States about the imposition of safeguards measures on imports of certain automobiles, and of the concerns regarding the fulfilment of the 
procedural requirements under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards. The Council also took note of 
the responses provided by Ukraine.   
10.2.  At its meeting of 11 July, at the request of  the delegation of Japan, the Council considered 
this issue and took note of the statements made by Australia, the European Union, Japan, Korea, 
the Russian Federation, and Turkey about addition al duties imposed by Ukraine on motor cars 
presented as a safeguard measure. The Council also took note of the responses and explanations by Ukraine.    
10.3.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of … .] 
11  UKRAINE'S ARTICLE XXVIII NOTIFICATION  
11.1.  At its meetings on 25 March, the Council considered this issue at the request of the 
delegations of ASEAN, Australia; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Croatia; Egypt; the European 
Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Japan; Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Turkey; and the United States. The Council t ook note of the statements made by the 
above-mentioned delegations, and of the statemen ts made by China, Ecuador, El Salvador and 
Uruguay. The Council also took note of the responses by Ukraine. 
11.2.  At its meeting of 11 July, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegations 
of ASEAN; Australia; Canada; Chile; Egypt; the European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; 
Iceland; Israel; Japan; Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Turkey; and the United States. 
The Council took note of the statements made by ASEAN; Australia; Canada; Chile; China; G/C/W/687 
 
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  Colombia; El Salvador; the European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; 
Japan; Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Turkey and the United States. The Council also took note of the responses by Ukraine.  
11.3.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered this issue at the request of the 
delegations of ASEAN; Australia; Canada; the European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; 
Japan; Korea; Norway; and the United States. The Council took note of the statements made by … .] 
12  UKRAINE'S COKING-COAL IMPORT QUOTA – REQUEST FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION 
AND THE UNITED STATES 
12.1.  At its meeting of 11 July, the Council took note of the statements made by Australia, the 
European Union, the Russian Federation, and the Unit ed States. It also took note of the responses 
by Ukraine.  
12.2.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by the 
European Union and the United States.]  
13  RUSSIAN FEDERATION – IMPLEMENTATION OF WTO ACCESSION COMMITMENTS  
13.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, at the request of the United States, the Council considered this 
issue and took note of the statements made by the European Union, Japan and the United States, 
and of the responses by Ukraine. 
13.2.  At its meeting of 11 July, at the request of the European Union, Japan and the 
United States, the Council considered this issue and took note of the statements made by the 
above-mentioned delegations and by the Chin ese Taipei; and of the responses by the 
Russian Federation.  
13.3.  [At its meeting of 18 October, at the request of the European Union, Japan and the 
United States, the Council considered this issue and took note of the statements made by the 
European Union, Japan, the United States, and … an d of the responses by the Russian Federation.]  
14  JAPAN - WOOD USE POINTS PROGRAMME  14.1.  At its meeting of 11 June, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegations 
of Canada and the European Union. The Council took note of the statements made by Canada, the 
European Union, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United States, and of the responses by Japan. 
Canada circulated written questions to Japan in document G/C/W/681. 
14.2.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council considered this issue at the request of the 
delegations of Canada, the European Union and th e United States. The Council took note of the 
statements made by Canada, the European Union and the United States, and of the responses by 
Japan. The Council also considered the written responses of Japan contained in 
document G/C/W/686.]  
15  NIGERIA – LOCAL CONTENT MEASURES IN OIL AND GAS – REQUEST FROM THE 
EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES. 
15.1.  At its meeting of 11 July, the Council took note of the statements made by Australia, the 
European Union, and the United States, and of the responses by Nigeria.  
15.2.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by the 
European Union and the United States.] 
16  [EUROPEAN UNION – THE EU RENEWABLE ENERGY DIRECTIVE – REQUEST FROM 
INDONESIA] 
16.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by Indonesia 
and the European Union.] G/C/W/687 
 
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  17  [GABON – SCHEDULE XLVII: RENEGOTIATIONS UNDER GATT ARTICLE XXVIII:4 
(G/SECRET/36)]   
17.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council  took note of the statement made by Gabon; 
and ...]. 
18  [UKRAINE – RECYCLING FEES ON CARS – REQUEST FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION] 
18.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by the 
European Union and … .] 
19  [RUSSIAN FEDERATION – MEASURES AFFECTING EU IMPORTS INTO RUSSIA – 
REQUEST FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION] 
19.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by the 
European Union and … .] 
20  [NIGERIA – RESTRICTION / BAN IMPO SED BY NIGERIA TO IMPORTS OF SEA 
PRODUCTS – REQUEST BY ICEL AND, NORWAY AND URUGUAY] 
20.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the statements made by Iceland, 
Norway and Uruguay, and … .] 
21  WORK PROGRAMME ON  ELECTRONIC COMMERCE 
21.1.  At its meeting of 25 March, Members reiterated their support to the reinvigoration of the 
Work Programme, and welcomed the two worksh ops on "E-commerce, Development and Small 
and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs)" and "Ser vices Related Issues for the Development of 
E-commerce", organized under the aegis of the Committee on Trade and Development and the Council for Trade in Servic es (CTS), respectively.  
21.2.  At its meeting of 11 July, the Council t ook note of the statements made by Cuba, the 
European Union and the United States concerning the outcome and positive results of these 
workshops. Statements also referred to the progre ss in the reinvigoration of the Work Programme 
and the need to renew the moratorium at the next  MC9.  The Chairperson also indicated that he 
would make, under his own responsibility, a report to the General Council at its meeting of 24-25 July 2013
1. 
21.3.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Chairperson informed the Council that it had fulfilled its 
mandate, and that the factual report submitted by his predecessor had been incorporated into the 
report to be submitted to the General Council and the Ministerial Conference in Bali.]  
22  CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL REPORTS OF  SUBSIDIARY BODIES  OF THE COUNCIL 
FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
22.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council took note of the annual reports of its subsidiary 
bodies.]2 
23  ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS TO THE 
GENERAL COUNCIL 
23.1.  [At its meeting of 18 October, the Council adopted its Annual Report (2013) to the 
General Council.] 
__________  
                                               
1 See G/C/53. 
2 See documents [G/L/1039 and G/L/1039/Rev.1; G/L/1042; G/L/1043; G/L/1044; G/L/10XX and 
G/L/10XY; G/L/10XZ; G/L/10YX;]. The reports from th e Committees on Technical Barriers to Trade; 
Safeguards; Subsidies and Countervail ing Measures; and Anti- Dumping Practices [….] will be submitted 
directly to the General Council.