WT/GC/W/795  
 
18 December  2019 
(19-8831) Page: 1/5 
General Council    
 
WAIVERS – 20191 
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT2 
The attached table has been prepared for the information of delegations. It contains a list of waivers 
grante d by the General Council in 201 9, as well as waivers previously gr anted and still in force in 
2019. It should be noted that some of these waivers expired during the course of the year.  
 
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1 A list of waivers grante d by the General Council and by the Ministerial Conference between 1995 and 
2015 is contained in WT/GC/W/ 718. 
2 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.   
  WT/GC/W/795  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20193 
Granted in 201 9 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions4 WT/L/ 1082 10 December 2019 31 December 20 20 - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions5 WT/L/ 1083 10 December 201 9 31 December 20 20 - 
Introductio n of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions6 WT/L/ 1084 10 December 201 9 31 December 20 20 - 
Introd uction of Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions7 WT/L/ 1085 10 December 201 9 31 December 20 20 - 
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least -Developed Countries – Decision on 
Extension of waiver  WT/L/ 1069 16 October  2019 30 June 2029  - 
United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery A ct WT/L/1070  16 October 2019  30 September 
2025 - 
  
                                                
3 Applicable if so stipulated in the correspon ding waiver Decision.  
4 The Member which has  requested to be covered under this waiver is : China . 
5 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Malaysia; Philippines; and Thailand . 
6 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Br azil; Canada; China; Colombia; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; El Salvador; 
European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; India; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Russian Federation ; Singapore; 
Switzerland; Thailand; and United States.  
7 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic;  El Salvador; 
Europ ean Union; Guatemala;  Honduras;  Hong K ong, China;  India; Israel; Kazakhstan;  Republic of  Korea; Macao, China; Montenegro;  New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay;  
Philippines; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; United States ; and  Uruguay.   
  WT/GC/W/795  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20198 
Previ ously granted – in force in 201 9 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions9 WT/L/1048  12 December 2018  31 December 2019  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions10 WT/L/1049  12 December 2018  31 December 2019  - 
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions11 WT/L/1050  12 December 2018  31 December 2019  - 
Introd uction of Harmonized System 2017  Changes into WTO Schedules of 
Tariff Concessions12 WT/L/1051  12 December 2018  31 December 2019  - 
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds - Extension of 
Waiver13  WT/L/1039  26 July 2018  31 December 2024  - 
United States – Former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands  WT/L/1000  7 December 2016  31 December 2026  WT/L/10 74 
United States – Trade Preferences granted to Nepal  WT/L/1001  7 December 2016  31 December 2025  WT/L/10 75 
European Union – Application of Autonomous Preferential Treatment to 
the Western Balkans  WT/L/1002  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  WT/L/10 77 
                                                
8 Applicable if so stipulated in the c orresponding waiver Decision.  
9 The Member which has requested to be covered under this waiver is: China.  
10 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are: Argentina; Brazil; China;  Dominican Republic ; European Union; Malaysia; Philippines; and Thailand . 
11 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Australia; Br azil; Canada; China; Colombia; Costa Rica;  Dominican Republic; El  Salvador; 
European Union; Guatemala; Ho ng Kong, China; India; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Russian Federation ; 
Singapore; Switzerland; Thailand; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinme n and Matsu; and  United States.  
12 The Members which have requested to be covered under this waiver are:  Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia ; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic;  El Salvador; 
Europ ean Union; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong K ong, China; India; Israel; Kazakhstan; Republic of  Korea ; Macao, China; Montenegro;  New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; 
Philippines; Russian Federation; Switzerland; Thailand; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu; United States; and  Uruguay.  
13 Annex: Australia; Botswana ; Braz il; Cambodia; Canada; European Union; Guyana; India; Japan; Kazakhstan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mauritius; Montenegro; Namibia; 
Norway; Panama; Russian Federation; Sierra Leone; Singapore; South Afri ca; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Thailand; Separate Custo ms Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 
Turkey; Ukraine; and United States.   
  WT/GC/W/795  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20198 
Previ ously granted – in force in 201 9 
Cuba – Article XV:6 – Extension of waiver  WT/L/1003  7 December 2016  31 December 2021  WT/L/10 76 
Implementation of Preferential Treatment in favour of Services and 
Service Suppliers of LDCs and Increasing LDC Participation in Services 
Trade14 WT/L/982  
WT/MIN(15)/48  19 December 2015  31 December 
203015 - 
United States – African Growth and Opportunity A ct WT/L/970  30 November 2015  30 September 
2025 WT/L/10 73 
Least -Developed Country Members – Obligations under Article 70.8 and 
Article 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to Pharmaceutical 
Products  WT/L/971  30 November 2015  1 January  2033 - 
Canada - CARIBCAN  WT/L/958  28 July 2015  31 December  2023 WT/L/10 65 
United States – Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery A ct WT/L/950  5 May 2015  31 December  2019 WT/L/1063  
Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to 
Services and Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries16 WT/MIN(13)/43  
WT/L/918  7 December 2013  - - 
Preferential Treatment to Services  and Service Suppliers of Least -
developed countries17 WT/L/847  17 December 2011  15 years from the 
date of its 
adoption18 - 
                                                
14 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  adopted in 2 011 
(WT/L/847) and of the subsequent Decision on the Operationalization of the Waiver concerning Preferential Treatment to Services and Service Suppliers of Least -developed countries 
adopted in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43 - WT/L/918)  – see also below.  
15 At the Nai robi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the  2011 waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  
(WT/L/847 ). See also below.  
16 This Ministerial Decision was adopted in furtherance of the waiver on Preferential Treatment to Services a nd Service Suppliers of Least -Developed Countries  adopted in 2011 
(WT/L/847). It does not represent a new waiver. See also page 5  and the decision in WT/L/847, below . 
17 Two decisions were subsequently adopted by the Ministerial Conference in furtherance of this waiver: in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918) and in 2015 (WT/MIN(15)/48 
– WT/L/982). See also above and the decision in WT/MIN(13)/43 – WT/L/918.  
18 At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, Ministers decided to extend the waiver until 31 December 2030  (WT/MIN(15)/48 – WT/L/982) - see also above.   
  WT/GC/W/795  
 
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WAIVER  
  
DECISION  DATE OF 
ADOPTION OF 
DECISION   
GRANTED  
UNTIL   
REPORT in 
20198 
Previ ously granted – in force in 201 9 
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least -Developed Countries – Decision on 
Extension of waiver  WT/L/759  27 May 2009  30 June 2019  - 
Implementation of Para. 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS 
Agreement and Public Health19 WT/L/540 and 
WT/L/540/ Corr.1  30 August 2003  See WT/L/540 and 
WT/L/540/ Corr.1  IP/C/84  
 
 
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19 Pursuant to the General Council Decision of 30 August 2003 (WT/L/540 and Corr.1), a Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement was adop ted by the General Council on 
6 December 2005 (WT/L/641) and submitted to Members for acceptance. In accordance with Article X:3 of the WTO Agreement, the Pr otocol e ntered into force on 23  January  2017. 
Since then, the amended TRIPS Agreement applies to those Members who have accepted it. For each other Member, the Protocol will take effect u pon acceptance by it. In the 
meantime, the 2003 Decision continues to apply to those Members. For the purposes of the 2003 Decision , the Annual Review of the Special Compulsory Licensing System is deemed 
to fulfil the review requirements of Article IX:4 of the WTO Agreement.