G/L/1200  
 
8 November 2017 
(17-6073) Page: 1/2 
   
 
 
REPORT (201 7) OF THE COMMITTEE O F PARTICIPANTS ON TH E EXPANSION  
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 (WT/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 201 7: on 28 June and 6 November . The 
minutes of these meetings are contained in documents  G/IT/M/6 6 and G/IT/M/6 7. Ms Zsofia 
Tvarusko  (Hungary) was elected Chair person of the Committee for 201 7. 
1.3.  The total number of WTO Members that are participants to the Ministerial Declaration is 82. 
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 
grant ed observer status, and the World Customs Organization  (WCO) has been granted observer 
status to meetings where issues of HS  classification and HS  amendments are included in the 
agenda.  
1.4.  The Committee continued its deliberations on the Non -Tariff Measures ( NTMs) Work 
Programme in 201 7. With regard to its work on the EMC/EMI  Pilot Project, the Committee took 
note that, among the 53  participants, 37 had provided survey responses and the Committee  
encouraged those that had not yet done so to provide the informa tion 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. The main issu es raised at the workshop by industry representatives were: 
transparency ; standards for recognition of test results ; e-labelling ; and energy efficiency . A factual 
report on the workshop was circulated in document  G/IT/28. At the request of the Committee, the 
Chairperson undertook informal consultations with interested delegations to examine the 
recommendations and avenues that were suggested by industry representatives at the 
NTB workshop, and such consultations will continue in 201 8. 
1.5.  On classification div ergences, with regard to the Committee's Decision (G/IT/27) concerning 
the endorsement of the 18  List I-A items for Attachment  B (G/IT/W/34), the Secretariat has been 
approached by five  ITA Participants for technical assistance. For the remaining 37  Attach ment B 
items, the Committee , at its meeting of 18  April 2016, agreed on a Decision (G/IT/29) for the 
HS2007  classification of 15  additional "Attachment  B" products. The Secretariat's comments on the 
remaining 22 items and comments received from 21  delegati ons were compiled in 
document  G/IT/W/40 and its Addend a and Supplement s. At its meeting of 6 November 2017, the 
Committee agreed on a  new Decision (G/IT/30) for the HS2007 classification of three  additional 
"Attachment  B" products.  
1.6.  The Committee has consistently reviewed the status of implementation, a summary of which 
is provided in document  G/IT/1 and its revisions. The document details  that most participants had 
submitted the formal documentation for rectification and modification  of their WTO  schedules in 
order to incorporate the commitments arising from the Ministerial Declaration , and most had been 
certified by the Director -General.  G/L/1200  
 
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  1.7.  At the meetings of 28 June and 6 November  2017, the Committee took note of the 
plurilateral negot iations 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 this matter at its future meetings.  
1.8.  As agreed at the Committee meeting on 1 November  2016, an ITA  Symposium was organized 
on 27 -28 June 2017 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the ITA and with the participation of 
the private sector. The purpose of the Symposium was to have an overview of the trade 
liberalization under the ITA and  the evolution of global trade in ICT  products over the past 
20 years; to examine how ICT, as a development tool, can help developing countries and SMEs in 
promoting connectivity and achievin g sustainable development goals,  and can enable 
diversification, technology upgrading, and innovation; and to discuss what is next for the ITA and 
the ICT  sector. The s tatements and presentations of all speakers  as well as the facilitator 's closing 
remarks  are available on the WTO  website.  
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