RESTRICTED  
  
G/C/M/117  
 
21 March 2014  
(14-1790)  Page: 1/3  
Council for Trade in Goods    
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TH E COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
27 NOVEMBER 2013 
CHAIRPERSON: H.E. AMBASSADOR DACIO CASTILLO (HONDURAS) 
The meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) was convened by airgram WTO/AIR/4226; 
the proposed agenda for the meeting was contained in document G/C/W/691. The meeting proceeded on the basis of the following agenda: 
1   ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION – PROCEDURES UNDER 
ARTICLE XXVIII:3 OF GATT 1994 ..................................................................................... 1
 
1.1   Enlargement of the European Union on 1 January 2007 ................................................... 1  
1.2   Enlargement of the Euro pean Union on 1 July 2013 ........................................................ 2  
2   OTHER BU SINESS ........................................................................................................ 3  
2.1   The Philippines – Request for a Waiver for Special Treatment for Rice of the 
Philippines (G/C/W /665/Rev.3) ........................................................................................... 3  
2.2   Date of th e next meeting ............................................................................................ 3  
 
When adopting the agenda the Chairperson indicated that under the Agenda item "Other Business", 
he would update the Council on the status of the discussions held by the Philippines with respect to its request for a waiver relating to special treatment of its rice (G/C/W/665/Rev.3), and remind the Council of the date of its next meeting.  
The Agenda was so agreed. 
 
1  ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION – PROCEDURES UNDER ARTICLE XXVIII:3 
OF GATT 1994 
1.1.  The Chairperson informed Members that, under this agenda item, the Council was to consider 
a request for an extension of the time-period for the withdrawal of concessions for the 
two enlargements of the European Union that  took place on 1 January 2007 and 1 July 2013, 
respectively. 
1.1  Enlargement of the European Union on 1 January 2007 1.2.  The Chairperson drew Members' attention to document G/L/821/Add.13 concerning the 
accession to the European Union on 1 January 2007 of Bulgaria and Romania. In this 
communication, the EU indicated that it would not assert that Members who had submitted a claim pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of GATT 1994 were precluded from withdrawing substantially equivalent 
concessions under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT 1994 because this withdrawal occurred later than 
six months after the EU's withdrawal of conce ssions, provided that the claiming WTO Member 
withdrew concessions no later than 90 months af ter the EU's modification of concessions. He 
recalled that the CTG had extended the deadline on thirteen occasions, namely at its meetings of 
21 May and 23 November 2007, 22 May and 18 November 2008, 29 June and 30 October 2009, 21 May and 30 November 2010, 26 May and 7 November 2011, 30 March and 26 November 2012, and 25 March 2013. G/C/M/117 
 
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  1.3.  The delegate of the European Union in formed the Council that the procedures under 
GATT Article XXVIII.3 were almost completed. The last agreement on compensatory adjustment 
had been signed with China on 9 September 2013  and was awaiting the completion of internal 
procedures before entering into force. The issue was on the agenda of the plenary session of the 
European Parliament (EP) that would take place on 9 and 10 December 2013. Once agreed by the 
EP, the EU would submit the final report on the negotiations concerning this enlargement. The above-mentioned situation had led the EU to request an extension of the period in which Members 
were allowed to withdraw substantially equivalent concessions up to 1 January 2014. 
1.4.   The Council took note of the statements made and also of the EU communication contained 
in document G/L/821/Add.13 and agreed on th e extension of the deadline, as set out in 
EU document G/L/821/Add.13, or until 1 July 2014. 
1.2  Enlargement of the European Union on 1 July 2013 
1.5.  The Chairperson recalled that, in document G/SECRET/35, dated 15 April 2013, the EU had 
notified the WTO and its membership of the EU  enlargement to 28 member States and, drew 
Members' attention to document G/L/1051 on the accession to the EU on 1 July 2013 of the 
Republic of Croatia. In this communication, the EU indicated it would not assert that WTO Members who had submitted a claim pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of the GATT 1994 were 
precluded from withdrawing substantially equivalent concessions under Article XXVIII:3 of the 
GATT 1994 because this withdrawal occurred later th an six months after the EU's withdrawal of 
concessions, provided that the claiming WTO Member withdrew concessions no later than 12 months after the European Union's modification of concessions. 
1.6.  The delegate of the European Union informed the Council that, in connection with 
Croatia's accession to the EU, his delegation had received 12 claims of interest within the 
90-day period following the EU notification circulated by the WTO Secretariat on 15 April 2013, and 
two other claims thereafter. The EU had held meetings with 13 claimants and provided them with 
substantive replies; however, it was still looking at legal and practical issues concerning the late claim received from one Member. Discussions with interested Members were still ongoing and the 
EU had circulated the request in G/L/1051 aimed at extending the period in which Members were 
allowed to withdraw substantially equivalent concessions. 
1.7.  The delegate of the United States supported the EU request. In July 2013, the US had 
submitted a claim of interest with respect to the modifications to the EU and Croatian schedules of 
concessions. The US required further time to asse ss the impact of the modifications on US trade 
and what compensation requests might be pursued. She asked the EU to clarify what would be the exact date of the new deadline. 
1.8.  The delegate of the Russian Federation thanked the EU for its communication and for the 
letter sent to her delegation on 25 November 2013. The requested extension should apply without 
prejudice to all parties having rights to compensa tion; in other words, th e extended time period 
should apply to all Members having notified their claims of interest. The Russian Federation would 
shortly provide the supporting evidence to enter into tariff negotiations with the EU, like any 
Member having principal and/or substantial supplying interest, as mentioned in document G/SECRET/35 of 15 April 2013. 
1.9.  The delegate of Uruguay supported the EU request. Uruguay had initiated some consultations 
with the EU and more time was needed. 
1.10.  The delegate of the European Union in response to the US clarified that the extension was 
for six months, or until 1 July 2014, but that in the case of withdrawal of concessions Members 
should provide a written notice 30 days before that date. On Russia's comments, the EU was looking at this issue from the legal and practica l perspectives before taking a decision as to 
whether or not to enter into negotiations; he had also taken note of Russia's statement, but 
without prejudice to a decision on the rights Russia was claiming. 
1.11.  The Chairperson confirmed that Members should be given at least 30 days to notify their 
intention to withdraw substantially equivalent co ncessions; in the present case, until 1 June 2014. 
He suggested that the Council take note of the statements made, of the communication contained G/C/M/117 
 
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  in document G/L/1051, and agree to the extension of the deadline, as set out in 
EU document G/L/1051, or until 1 July 2014. 
1.12.  The Council so agreed. 
2  OTHER BUSINESS 
2.1  The Philippines – Request for a Waiver  for Special Treatment for Rice of the 
Philippines (G/C/W/665/Rev.3) 
2.1.  The Chairperson informed the Council th at, according to information provided by the 
Philippines, the negotiation process with interested Members on the waiver concerning the special 
treatment for rice was still ongoing; he suggested that the Council revert to this issue at its next meeting. 
2.2.  The Council so agreed. 
2.2  Date of the next meeting 2.3.  The Chairperson recalled that the next meetin g of the Council was scheduled to take place on 
Thursday, 20 March 20141, and that the agenda would close on Friday, 7 March. Additional 
meetings would be convened if necessary. 
The meeting was adjourned. 
__________  
                                               
1 Postponed to Wednesday, 9 April 2014.