. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/BRA/5/Add.1 
5 October 2009 
 (09-4755) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
BRAZIL’S
 NON-AUTOMATIC  IMPORT  LICENSING  PROCEDURES 
 
Questions from CHINA to BRAZIL  
 
Addendum  
   The following communication, dated 29 September 2009, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the People's Republic of China. 
 
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 China thanks Brazil for its communication G/LIC/Q/BRA/11.   
 At the October 2008 meeting of the Committe e on Import Licensing, China requested Brazil 
to submit information concerning its non-automatic im port licensing requirements.   The United States 
and Thailand made similar requ est to Brazil during the October 2008 and April 2009 meetings of the 
Committee, respectively.  Since th is matter was raised in the Committee, the time required for Brazil 
to grant non-automatic import licenses has decre ased and generally appears to be in line with 
applicable deadlines.  However, Ch ina still has a number of concerns. 
 In particular, for the purpose of the 19 Oct ober 2009 meeting of the Committee, China would 
ask Brazil to explain the specific criteria used to  determine which goods re quire non-automatic import 
licenses.  China raised this matter in its communicat ion of 16 October 2008 (G /LIC/Q/BRA/5).  In its 
document G/LIC/Q/BRA/11, Brazil replied that:  “Decisions regarding the requirement of 
non-automatic import licensing procedures follow crite ria compatible with the provisions of WTO 
Agreements.”  This reply does not answ er the question raised by China.   
 China has set out below questions to Brazil regarding its non-automatic import licensing 
procedures.  China is providing these questions in  advance of the 19 October 2009 meeting of the 
Committee, so that Brazil will be prepared to provide  full, substantive replies at that meeting and in 
writing.  
1. Please explain in detail the criteria used to  determine which goods require non-automatic 
import licenses.   
 
2. For each criteria used by Brazil to determ ine the goods that require non-automatic import 
licenses, please list  the provision(s) of the WTO Ag reements with which Brazil considers the criteria 
to be compatible with an explanation of such compatibility.  
3. In document G/LIC/Q/BRA/11, Brazil states that “[t]oys are subject to non-automatic import 
licensing procedures because there are technical regulati ons that they must comply with.”  Article 3.2 
of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  provides that “Non-automatic licensing shall 
correspond in scope and duration to the measure they  are used to implement, and shall be no more 
administratively burdensome than absolutely necessary to administer the measure.”   G/LIC/Q/BRA/5/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
  - Please provide information on the specific measure that the non-automatic licensing scheme 
with respect to toys is used to implement. 
 - Please explain how the non-automatic licensing regime for toys is “no more administratively 
burdensome than absolutely necessary”  to administer this measure. 
 
- Please list the information that must be provide d in an application for a non-automatic import 
license.  Please also list any additional or differe nt information required with respect to toys. 
 - Please explain in detail the procedures followe d by Brazil in considering applications for 
non-automatic import licenses.  Please also e xplain any additional or different procedures 
with respect to toys. 
 - If there are any additional / different informa tion requirements or procedures for toys, please 
explain how this is consistent with Brazil’s obligations under Article 1.3 of the Agreement 
that import licensing procedures must be “neutral in application” and “administered in a fair 
and equitable manner.” 
 
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