WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/MA/W/18/Add.16/Rev.4 
9 July 2010 
 (10-3784) 
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original:   English 
  
  
MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
Negotiating Text on Liberalizing Trade in Remanufactured Goods
 
 
Communication from Japan, Swit zerland, and the United States 
 
Revision  
 
 The following communication, dated 9 July 2010,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Japan, Switzerland and the United States. 
 
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Ministerial Decision on Trade in Remanufactured Goods 
 
Members,    Recalling  that pursuant to paragraph 16 of the Doha  Ministerial Declaration, Members agreed 
to negotiations aimed at reducing or as appropria te eliminating tariffs and non-tariff barriers on 
non-agricultural products;   
 
Recognizing  the objectives of protecting and preserving the environment, promoting 
sustainable development by preventing unnecessary w aste and conserving energy and raw materials, 
raising standards of living, and expanding  the production of and trade in goods; 
 
 Mindful  of Members' right to adopt measures for the protection of human, animal or plant life 
or health, or of the environment, consistent with the WTO Agreement; 
 Noting  that business enterprises are using remanufacturing across an expanding range of 
products, such as earthmoving equipment, automo tive parts, medical devices, information and 
communication technology products, industrial machinery, precision instruments, and office 
equipment;  
 
Considering  the benefits to the environment and to consumers of the production of and trade 
in remanufactured goods; 
 
Recognizing  that remanufacturing takes place in deve loped and developing countries alike, 
creating jobs and facilitating economic growth;   Desiring  to enhance opportunities for trade in remanufactured products by reducing or, as 
appropriate, eliminating non-tariff barriers in respect of those goods;   
 
  TN/MA/W/18/Add.16/Rev.4 
Page 2  
 
   Decide as follows: 
 1. For purposes of this Decision, remanufactured good  means  a non-agricultural good (1) that is 
entirely or partially comprised of parts that (i ) have been obtained from the disassembly of used 
goods; and (ii) have been processed, cleaned, inspected, and tested to  the extent necessary to ensure 
they have been restored to original working cond ition or better; and (2) for which the remanufacturer 
has issued a warranty.  
2. Each Member should take steps to ensure that  its trade regime evolves in a manner that 
enhances market access opportunities for remanufactured goods.
1 
3. Members should review their non-tariff measures with a view to ensuring that they do not 
impose prohibitions or restrictions on the importati on of remanufactured goods that are proscribed by 
the Multilateral Agreements on Trade in Goods.2  
4. Members shall afford sympathetic considerati on to any request for consultation from other 
Members concerning their non-tariff measures affect ing remanufactured goods.  Consultations shall 
not prejudice a Member's rights and obligations under the WTO Agreement.   
5. The Working Group on Trade in Remanufactured Goods is hereby established under the 
auspices of the Council for Trade in Goods.  Particip ation in the Working Group shall be open to all 
Members.  Members that participate in the Work ing Group shall establish procedures for the Working 
Group and shall carry out the work program outlined in the Annex to this Decision. 
6. The Working Group shall report periodically, but no  less often than every six months, to the 
Council for Trade in Goods.  The Working Group' s reports should include a summary of its progress 
under the work program, with an aim to facilitate  discussion in the Council for Trade in Goods of  
progress in reducing or, as appropriate, eliminating non-tariff barriers in respect of remanufactured 
goods. 
7. Activities organized by the Working Group and reports prepared by the Working Group shall 
use resources provided by the Members themsel ves, private sector entities, non-governmental 
organizations, or international organizations, and shall only use minimal resources from the WTO 
Secretariat. 
8. The work program outlined in the Annex shall be carried out in a manner that takes fully into 
account the special needs and interests of devel oping and least-developed country participants. 
                                                      
1 This paragraph does not require a Member to redu ce or eliminate tariffs on  remanufactured goods.  
2 Non-tariff measures that may a ffect trade in remanufactured goods include such measures as import 
licensing, import prohibitions, pre-shipment inspection requirements, technical regulations, and conformity 
assessment procedures.  TN/MA/W/18/Add.16/Rev.4 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Annex  
 
Work Program for Trade in Remanufactured Goods  
 
1. Members may raise and discuss specific trade concerns regarding prospective or current 
measures and ways in which Members could adjust thei r measures to reduce or eliminate barriers to   
trade in remanufactured goods.  2. Members may organize workshops, which ma y include participants from private sector 
entities, non-governmental organizations, or internationa l organizations, on pertinent issues, such as:  
 
 (i) Industry operations and practice : Examination of private sector operations, practices, 
and experience in develope d and developing countries, including, experience in 
trading remanufactured goods, commonly en countered trade barriers, and warranty 
practices.  
 
 (ii) Development  aspects:   Examination of the experience of developing countries in 
adopting and developing remanufacturing t echnologies; global remanufacturing 
industry experience in operating in developing countries; and investment and job-creation aspects. 
 
 (iii) Relation to the Environment: Discussi on of the environmental impact of 
remanufacturing trade and production.  
 
 (iv) Regulatory Issues:  Examination of re gulatory measures such as  technical 
regulations, conformity assessment pro cedures, labelling, standards, and risk 
assessment procedures that affect trade in remanufactured goods and alternative 
approaches to those measures. . 
 
 (v) Institutional Issues: Exchange of Memb er experience in building appropriate 
infrastructure, institutions, and regulatory  environments to encourage production of 
and trade in remanufactured goods and address  capacity challenges. 
 
 Members that organize workshops shall prom ptly summarize the discussions and information 
shared in the workshop to facilitate the Working Group's reports to the Council for Trade in Goods. 
  The Working Group may take up such other i ssues related to trade in remanufactured goods 
as it considers appropriate. 
 
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