WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/L/1003 
2 October 2012 
 (12-5334) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2012) OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
TRADE-RELATED INVESTMENT MEASURES 
 
  I. GENERAL 
1. This report is submitted pursuant to Article  7.3 of the Agreement on Trade-Related 
Investment Measures ("TRIMs Agreement"), which requires the Committee on Trade-Related 
Investment Measures (the "Committee") to report annually to the Council for Trade in Goods.  The 
Report covers the period Oc tober 2011 – October 2012. 
2. The Committee met formally on 4 May 2012 under the Chairpersonship of 
Mr. Patrick Van Gheel (Belgium) and on 1 October 2012 under the Chairpersonship of 
Mr. José Estanislau do Amaral (Brazil).  The minut es of these meetings may be found in documents 
G/TRIMS/M/32 and G/TRIMS/M/33, respectively.  Both meetings were open to all Members, governments with observer status in the WTO and in ternational intergovernmental organizations to 
which the Committee has accorded regular ob server status (IMF, OECD, UN, UNCTAD and 
World Bank).  Decisions on requests for observer status made by several other international 
organizations are pending. 
II. NOTIFICATIONS 
3. Pursuant to Article 5.1 of the TRIMs Agreemen t, Members were required to notify any trade-
related investment measure ("TRIM")  inconsistent with the Agreement within 90 days after the entry 
into force of the WTO Agreement.  Article 5.2 a llows for transition periods for the elimination of 
measures notified under Article 5.1 a nd which were in existence at least 180 days preceding the entry 
into force of the WTO Agreement.  Pursuant to a decision adopted by the General Council in 
April 1995, governments eligible to become  original WTO Members that accepted the 
WTO Agreement after 1 January 1995 had a period of 90 days after the date of their acceptance of the 
WTO Agreement to make the notifications foreseen in  Article 5.1, with the period for the elimination 
of TRIMs notified under Article 5.1 being governed by reference to the date of entry into force of the 
WTO Agreement itself.
1  
4. Annex 1 to this report lists all notifications of measures under Article 5.1.  In the case of some 
Members, notifications have been submitted la ter than the 90-day period foreseen.  At the 
October meeting of the Committee, the United Stat es indicated that it was looking forward to the 
Russian Federation's notification under Article 5.1 of the Agreement pursuant to the Timeline for 
Submission of Notifications contained in Tabl e 38 of the Report on the Working Party on the 
Accession of the Russian Federation2. 
                                                      
1 WT/L/64. 
2 WT/ACC/RUS/70. G/L/1003 
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  5. Some Members have notified that they do no t apply any TRIM inconsistent with the 
Agreement.  Annex 2 to this report lists all Members that ha ve made such notifications. 
6. Article 6.2 provides for notification of publica tions in which information on TRIMs can be 
found.  Annex 3 lists the Members that have submitt ed such notifications.  During the period covered 
by this report, notifications were made by  Croatia, Honduras, the Russian Federation and 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of.  As agreed by th e Committee at its meeting on 20 May 2009, the 
Secretariat has circulated reminders every six months.
3  These reminders contain guidance regarding 
the requirements of Article 6.2 and its related decision.  The reminders also request all Members that had never notified such publications to do so without  delay and that all Members that had previously 
notified to constantly update their notifications, if  appropriate, without delay.   The latest updated list 
of notifications has been circulated in document G/TRIMS/N/2/Rev.22.
4  At the October meeting, the 
United States welcomed the notification submitted by the Russian Federation pursuant to Article 6.2 
of the Agreement.   
III. SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROPOSALS RELATED TO THE 
TRIMS AGREEMENT 
7. Pursuant to the Decision adopted by the General Council on 1 August 2004 (WT/L/579) and 
paragraph 37 of the Hong Kong Ministerial D eclaration (WT/MIN(05)/DEC), the TRIMs Committee 
continued its consideration of the Category II Sp ecial and Differential Treatment ("S&D") proposals 
which were referred to it by the Ch airperson of the General Council. 
8. The proposals were originally submitted by the African Group in document 
TN/CTD/W/3/Rev.2 and relate to Articles 4 and 5.3 of the TRIMs Agreement.  In April 2007, Kenya 
on behalf of the African Group submitted a revised ve rsion of the proposals dealing more specifically 
with the concerns of the proponents.5  In June and October 2007, the Chairperson held informal 
discussions with interested delegations on the revi sed proposals.  These were further discussed at the 
meeting of the Committee held on 1 November 2007 at which the representative of Kenya said that 
they were open to listen to any new ideas concerning these proposals, particularly with respect to the 
drafting, and that the African Group felt that it had gone as far as it could on this issue, unless there 
were other suggestions by other Members.  No furthe r revisions to the draft proposals have since been 
received.  In accordance with paragraph 37 of  the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, the 
Chairperson of the TRIMs Committee submitted an oral report (18 December 2007)6 to the 
General Council on the work undertaken by the Committ ee with respect to the S&D proposals.  At the 
Committee meetings on 23 Oc tober 2008, 16 October 20097, 1 October 2010 and 3 October 2011, no 
delegation took the floor in this respect. 
9. At the Committee meeting held on 1 October 2012,  no delegation took the floor with respect 
to this issue.  Like his predecessors, the Chairperso n indicated that he had no further developments to 
report to the General Council and confirmed his willi ngness to continue informal consultations on this 
issue should Members so wish and report back to the Committee and the General Council at an 
appropriate time on any fu rther developments.   
                                                      
3 Reminders for 2012 were circulated in documents G/TRIMS/W/92 and G/TRIMS/W /101. 
4 Following the circulation of th is document, the notifi cation of the Russian Federation was received 
and circulated in document G/TRIMS/N/2/Rev.22/Add.1. 
5 The latest revised version of the African Group's proposals was annexed to document 
G/TRIMS/M/31. 
6 WT/GC/M/112, paragraph 142. 
7 Following that meeting, the Chairperson made an oral report to the General Council at its meeting 
held on 17 December 2009.  This report was reflected in document WT/GC/M/124, paragraph 52.  G/L/1003 
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  IV. COMMUNICATIONS BY MEMBERS AND RELATED DISCUSSIONS 
10. At its meetings in 2012, three new issues we re first raised at the May meeting, while 
three additional new issues were first taken up at  the October meeting.  At both meetings, the 
discussion also continued with respect to four ot her issues previously raised in the Committee.  
11. With respect to the three new issues consid ered in May, the Committee discussed, at the 
request of the European Union ("EU"), Japan and the United States ("US"), the issue entitled 
"Argentina – Obligation to Compensate Imports-E xports and/or to Develop Local Facilities in 
Relation with Imports and Repa triation of Profits Abroad".8  The second issue taken up by the 
Committee was at the request of the EU and the US, and entitled "Brazil – Certain Local Content 
Provisions in the Telecommunications Sector".9  The third issue was considered at the request of the 
EU and the US and entitled "India – Certain Preferences to Domestically Manufactured Electronic 
Goods".10  The discussions pertaining to the second and third issues have continued at the 
October meeting at the request of Japan a nd the US with respect to the second issue11 and at the 
request of the EU, Japan and the US  with respect to the third issue.12 
12. At the October meeting, three additional new issues were discussed.  The first was at the 
request of Australia and the EU and entitled "Braz il – Tax Preferences to Domestically Manufactured 
Automotive Vehicles".13  The second was at the request of the US and entitled "China – Certain 
Investment Measures Pertaining to the Steel Sector"14, while the third was at the request of the EU 
and entitled "Ukraine – Certain Local Conten t Provisions in the Draft Law No. 10183 "On 
Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Electric Power Industry".15 
13. In addition, the Committee continued at both mee tings, at the request of the EU, Japan and the 
US, the discussion of the issue entitled "India – Mandatory Local Content Requirements in Project 
Guidelines For Phase 1 (Batch 1 And Batch 2) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission"16;  the 
issue entitled "Indonesia – Certain Measures Addr essing Local Content in Investment in the 
Telecommunications Sector", at the request of Japan (May meeting) and Japan and the US (October meeting)
17;  the issue entitled "Indonesia – Certain Local Content Provisions in the Energy 
Sector (Mining, Oil and Gas), at the request of Ca nada, the EU, Japan and the US (May meeting) and 
the EU, Japan and the US (October meeting)18;  and the issue entitled "Nigeria – Certain Measures 
Taken in the "Act to Provide for the Development of Nigerian content in the Nigeria Oil and Gas 
Industry" of April 2010", at the request of the EU and the US.19 
V. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING 
14. The next annual Committee meeting will be held on 4 October 2013.   
                                                      
8 Further details could be found in G/TRIMS/M/32. 
9 G/TRIMS/W/93 and G/TRIMS/W/99. 
10 G/TRIMS/W/94 and G/TRIMS/W/97. 
11 G/TRIMS/W/107. 
12 G/TRIMS/W/105. 
13 G/TRIMS/W/110. 
14 G/TRIMS/W/103. 
15 G/TRIMS/W/109. 
16 G/TRIMS/W/95, G/TRIMS/W/98 and G/TRIMS/W/106. 
17 G/TRIMS/W/86, G/TRIMS/W/96 and G/TRIMS/W/104. 
18 G/TRIMS/W/88, G/TRIMS/W/100 and G/TRIMS/W/108. 
19 G/TRIMS/W/89. G/L/1003 
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  VI. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 
15. At its meeting of 4 May 2012, the Committee el ected Mr José Estanislau do Amaral (Brazil) 
as its Chairperson for the period 2012-2013.    G/L/1003 
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  ANNEX 1 
 
Members that have Submitted Notifications under Article 5.1  
of the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures 
 
 
Member  Document Symbol  Date of Communication  
Argentina G/TRIMS/N/1/ARG/1 30 March 1995 
Argentina G/TRIMS/N/1/ARG/1/Add.1 21 March 1997 Barbados G/TRIMS/N/1/BRB/1 31 March 1995 
Bolivia
1  G/TRIMS/N/1/BOL/1 24 June 1998 
Chile2  G/TRIMS/N/1/CHL/1 14 December 1995 
Colombia G/TRIMS/N/1/COL/1 31 March 1995 
Colombia G/TRIMS/N/1/COL/1/Add.1 4 June 1995 
Colombia3 G/TRIMS/N/1/COL/2 31 July 1995 
Colombia G/TRIMS/N/1/COL/2/Corr.1 30 September 1996 
Costa Rica4 G/TRIMS/N/1/CRI/1 30 March 1995 
Cuba5  G/TRIMS/N/1/CUB/1 18 July 1995 
Cyprus6  G/TRIMS/N/1/CYP/2 30 October 1995 
Dominican Republic G/TRIMS/N/1/DOM/1 26 April 1995 
Ecuador  G/TRIMS/N/1/ECU/1 20 March 1996 Egypt  G/TRIMS/N/1/EGY/1 29 September 1995 
India  G/TRIMS/N/1/IND/1 31 March 1995 
India  G/TRIMS/ N/1/IND/1/Add.1 22 December 1995 
India  G/TRIMS/N/1/IND/1/Add.1/Corr.1 18 March 1996 
India  G/TRIMS/N/1/IND/1/Add.2 11 April 1996 
Indonesia G/TRIMS/N/1/IDN/1 23 May 1995 Indonesia G/TRIMS/N/1/IDN/1/Add.1 28 October 1996 Malaysia G/TRIMS/N/1/MYS/1 31 March 1995 
Malaysia G/TRIMS/N/1/MYS/1/Rev.1 14 March 1996 
Mexico  G/TRIMS/N/1/MEX/1 31 March 1995 Mexico
7  G/TRIMS/N/1/MEX/1/Rev.18 31 March 1995 
                                                      
1 Bolivia subsequently submitted a notification indicating that it does not apply any trade-related 
investment measures that are not in conformity  with the Agreement (G/TRIMS/N/1/BOL/1/Add.1). 
2 Chile subsequently submitted a notification indica ting that it has eliminated measures notified under 
Article 5.1 (G/TRIMS /N/1/CHL/1/Add.1). 
3 Colombia subsequently submitted a notification indicating that it had issued Decree No. 1473 of 
10 May 2004, whereby Decree No. 2439 of 1994 establis hing import control mechanisms for certain agricultural 
products had been repealed (G/TRIMS/N/1/COL/3).   
4 Costa Rica subsequently submitted a notification indicating that it intended to eliminate measures 
notified under Article 5.1 in advance of the expiry of the transition period (G /TRIMS/N/1/CRI/1/Add.1). 
5 Cuba subsequently informed the Committee that the measures notified by Cuba under Article 5.1 are 
no longer in force (G/TRIMS/M/3, paragraph 5). 
6 This notification superseded Cyprus' previous on e (G/TRIMS/N/1/CYP/1) of 29 June 1995;  Cyprus 
subsequently submitted a notification indicating that it has eliminated measures notified under Article 5.1 
(G/TRIMS/N/1/CYP/2/Add.1). G/L/1003 
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  Member  Document Symbol  Date of Communication  
Nigeria9  G/TRIMS/N/1/NGA/1 17 July 1996 
Pakistan  G/TRIMS/N/1/PAK/1 30 March 1995 
Peru  G/TRIMS/N/1/PER/1 3 March 1995 
Philippines G/TRIMS/N/1/PHL/1 31 March 1995 Poland
10  G/TRIMS/N/1/POL/1 28 September 1995 
Romania G/TRIMS/N/1/ROM/1 31 March 1995 
South Africa G/TRIMS/N/1/ZAF/1 19 April 1995 
Thailand  G/TRIMS/N/1/THA/1 30  March 1995 Uganda  G/TRIMS/N/1/UGA/1 17 June 1997 
Uruguay  G/TRIMS/N/1/URY/1 31 March 1995 
Uruguay  G/TRIMS/N/1/URY/1/Add.1 30 August 1995 Venezuela G/TRIMS/N/1/VEN/1 31 March 1995 
                                                                                                                                                                     
7 Mexico subsequently submitted a notification indicating that all provisions under the Automotive 
Decree had ceased to be operative as of 1 January 2004 (G/C/42). 
8 In English only. 
9 Nigeria subsequently submitted a notification indicating that the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Act 
of 1989 has been repealed and replaced with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Decree 1995 
(G/TRIMS/N/1/NGA/1/Add.1). 
10 Poland subsequently submitted a notification in dicating that it has eliminated measures notified 
under Article 5.1 (G/TRIMS/N/1/POL/1/Add.1).  G/L/1003 
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  ANNEX 2 
 
Notifications Indicating that No TRIMs Inconsistent with the Agreement 
on Trade-Related Investment Measures are Maintained 
 
 
Member  Document Symbol  Date of Communication  
Bolivia  G/TRIMS/N/1/BOL/1/Add.1 4 March 1999 
Costa Rica   G/TRIMS/N/1/CRI/1/Add.11 16 September 1999 
Cyprus   G/TRIMS/N/1/CYP/2/Add.1 26 May 2000 
El Salvador G/TRIMS/N/1/SLV/1 5 November 2003 
Haiti  G/TRIMS/N/1/HTI/1 27 February 1998 Honduras G/TRIMS/N/1/HND/1 7 July 1995 
Israel  G/TRIMS/N/1/ISR/1 24 October 1996 
Jamaica  G/TRIMS/N/1/JAM/1 9 June 1998 Jordan   G/TRIMS/N/1/JOR/1 22 May 2000 
Maldives  G/TRIMS/N/1/MLV/1 30 September 1999 
Mali  G/TRIMS/N/1/MLI/1 27 May 1997 Mauritius G/TRIMS/N/1/MUS/1 27 March 1995 
New Zealand G/TRIMS/N/1/NZL/1 20 May 1999 
Nicaragua G/TRIMS/N/1/NIC/1 18 July 1996 Oman  G/TRIMS/N/1/OM N/1 20 December 2000 
Saint Lucia G/TRIMS/N/1/LCA/1 14 February 1996 
Saudi Arabia G/TRIMS/N/1/SAU/1 3 October 2006 Singapore G/TRIMS/N/1/SGP/1 9 October 1996 
Slovenia  G/TRIMS/N/1/SVN/1 27 March 1995 
Sri Lanka  G/TRIMS/N/1/LKA/1 14 March 2000 Switzerland G/TRIMS/N/1/CHE/1 8 August 1995 Chinese  Taipei  G/TRIMS/N/1/TPKM/1 27 May 2002 
Trinidad & Tobago G/TRIMS/N/1/TTO/1 1 April 1996 
Zambia  G/TRIMS/N/1/ZMB/1 13 April 1995  
                                                      
1 A Corrigendum to the English version was issued in G/TRIMS/N/1/CRI/1/Add.1/Corr.1, dated 
26 October 1999. G/L/1003 
Page 8 
  ANNEX 3 
 
Members that have Submitted Notifications under Article 6.2 of 
the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures 
  
Albania Kyrgyz Republic 
Angola Lesotho 
Argentina Liechtenstein 
Armenia Macao, China 
Australia  Madagascar Bahrain, Kingdom of Malaysia 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of   Maldives 
Brazil Mali Brunei Darussalam Mauritius 
Burkina Faso Mexico 
Burundi Moldova, Republic of Cameroon Mongolia 
Canada Namibia 
Chad New Zealand Chile Nicaragua 
China Nigeria 
Colombia Norway Costa Rica Oman 
Croatia Panama 
Cuba Paraguay Dominica Peru 
Dominican Republic Philippines 
Ecuador Qatar 
El Salvador Russian Federation 
European Union (including the memb er States) Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  
Fiji  Senegal 
Gabon Singapore 
Georgia South Africa Ghana Sri Lanka 
Haiti Suriname 
Honduras Switzerland Hong Kong, China Chinese Taipei 
Iceland Thailand 
India Trinidad and Tobago Indonesia Tunisia 
Israel Turkey 
Jamaica Uganda Japan Ukraine 
Jordan United Arab Emirates 
Korea, Republic of United States of America Kuwait, the State of Uruguay 
 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 
 Zambia 
 Zimbabwe 
 
  
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