WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/GC/W/665 
10 January 2013 
 (13-0132) 
General Council  
  
 
WAIVERS – 2012 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
  
 The attached table has been prep ared for the information of dele gations.  It contains a list of 
waivers granted by the General Council in 2012, as well as waivers previously granted and still in 
force in 2012.  It should be noted that some of  these waivers expired during the course of the year. 
 
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1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to 
the positions of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO. 
  
  WT/GC/W/665 
Page 2  
 
WAIVER 
  
DECISION DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION  
GRANTED  
UNTIL  
REPORT in 
20122 
Granted in 2012 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions3 WT/L/873 11 December 2012 31 December 2013 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions4 WT/L/874 11 December 2012 31 December 2013 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions5 WT/L/875 11 December 2012 31 December 2013 - 
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme  for Rough Diamonds - Extension of 
Waiver6 WT/L/876 11 December 2012 31 December 2018 - 
Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver WT/L /850 14 February 2012 31 December 2016 WT/L/867 
European Union – Preferences for Pakistan WT /L/851 14 February 2012 31 December 2013 - 
                                                      
2 Applicable if so stipulated in  the corresponding waiver Decision. 
3 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiv er are: Argentina; Australia; Br azil; China; Croatia; European U nion; Iceland; India; Malaysia; and 
Uruguay. 
4 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina;  Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Costa Rica;  Croatia; Dominican Republic; El 
Salvador ; European Union; Guatem ala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China;  India; Israel; Korea; Macao, China;  Malaysia; Mexico; New Ze aland; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; 
Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland; Thailand; United States; and Uruguay.   
5 The Members which have requested to be covered under this wa iver are: Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; European 
Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Isr ael; Korea, Republic of; Macao, China;  Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; N orway; Pakistan; Russian Federation; 
Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; and United States. 
6 Annex: Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, European Unio n, 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/665
 Page 3 
WAIVER 
  
DECISION DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION  
GRANTED  
UNTIL  
REPORT in 
20122 
Previously granted – in force in 2012 
Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Suppliers of Least-
Developed Countries WT/L/847 17 December 2011 17 December 2026 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions7 WT/L/832 30 November 2011 31 December 2012 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions8 WT/L/833 30 November 2011 31 December 2012 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions9 WT/L/834 30 November 2011 31 December 2012 - 
CARIBCAN WT/L/835 30 November 2011 31 December 2013 WT/L/868 
European Union - Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the 
Western Balkans WT/L/836 30 November 2011 31 December 2016 WT/L/870 
and Corr. 1 
Cape Verde – Implementation of Ar ticle VII of GATT 1994 and of the 
Agreement on Customs Valuation WT/L/812 3 May 2011 1 January 2012 - 
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least-Developed Countries – Decision on 
Extension of waiver WT/L/759 27 May 2009 30 June 2019 - 
United States – Andean Trade Preference Act – Renewal of  waiver WT/L/755 27 May 2009 31 December 2014 WT/L/860 
                                                      
7 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiv er are: Argentina; Australia; Br azil; China; Croatia; European U nion; Iceland; India; Malaysia; Mexico; 
Thailand; and Uruguay. 
8 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiv er are:  Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Costa Rica ; Croatia; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; 
European Union; Guatemala;  Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India;  Israel; Korea; Macao, China; Ma laysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Nicar agua; Norway; Pakistan; Philippines; Singapore; 
Switzerland; Thailand; United States and Uruguay. 
9 The Members which have requested to be covered under this wa iver are: Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic;  El Salvador; European Union; 
Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Ko ng, China; India; Israel; Republic  of Korea; Macao, China; Malays ia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; P akistan; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen  and Matsu; Thailand and United States.  
  WT/GC/W/665 
Page 4  
WAIVER 
  
DECISION DATE of 
ADOPTION of 
DECISION  
GRANTED  
UNTIL  
REPORT in 
20122 
United States – African Growth and Opportunity Act  WT/L/754 27 May 2009 30 September 2015 WT/L/859 
United States - Caribbean Basin Ec onomic Recovery Act – Renewal of 
waiver WT/L/753 27 May 2009 31 December 2014 WT/L/858 
European Communities – Application of Autonomous Preferential 
Treatment to Moldova WT/L/722 7 May 2008 31 December 2013 WT/L/861 
Mongolia - Export duties on raw cashmere  WT/L/695 27 July 2007 29 January 2012 - 
United States – Former  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/694 27 July 2007 31 December 2016 WT/L/857 
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for rough diamonds10 WT/L/676 15 December 2006 31 December 2012 - 
Implementation of Para. 6 of th e 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 IP/C/63 
Least-Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.9 of the 
TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical Products WT/L/478 8 July 2002 1 January 2016 - 
 
 
 
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10 Annex: Australia; Botswana; Brazil; Canada; Croatia; India; Isr ael; Japan; Korea; Mauritius; Mexico; Norway; Philippines; Sier ra Leone; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United 
Arab Emirates; United States and Venezuela.