RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/M/26 
12 December 2007 
 
 (07-5502) 
Committee on Import Licensing  
  
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8 OCTOBER 2007 
 
Chairperson:  Mr. Marco J Kassaja (Tanzania
) 
  
 The Committee on Import Licensing held its tw enty-sixth meeting on 8 October 2007.  The 
agenda proposed for the meeting, contained in WTO/AIR/3077, was adopted as follows:    
 
Table of Contents
 
 
1. Members' compliance with notification ob ligations – Developments since the last 
meeting........................................................................................................................ ...............1  
2. Notifications.................................................................................................................. .............5  
(i) Notifications under Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b) of the Agreement (publications 
and/or   legislation).......................................................................................................... ...........5  
(ii) Notifications under Article 5 of the Agreement (new import licensing procedures, 
changes to existing licensing procedures and reverse notifications)..........................................5  
(iii) Notifications under Article 7.3 of the Ag reement (Replies to the Questionnaire on 
Import Licensing Procedures) ................................................................................................... .6 
3. Sixth Transitional Review under Paragraph 18 of the Protocol on the Accession 
of the People's Republic of China (WT/L/432).......................................................................7  
4. Report (2007) of the Committee to the Council for Trade in Goods....................................8  
5. Other Bu siness................................................................................................................. ..........8  
(i) Information on technical assistance ac tivities related to the Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures........................................................................................................... .......8  
 
1. Members' compliance with notification ob ligations – Developments since the last 
meeting 
1.1 The Chairperson  informed the Committee that since the last meeting 39 notifications had been 
received under various provisions of the Agre ement on Import Licensing Procedures (eight 
notifications under Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b) , five under Article 5.1-5.4 and twenty-six under 
Article 7.3).  As of the date of the meeting, out of a total Membership of 151 (counting each of the EC 
Member States individually), there remained 21 Members1 who had not submitted any notification 
under the Agreement since joining the WTO.  Only  a cumulative total of 94 Members, counting the 
European Communities as one, had submitted notif ications of laws and regulations (under 
                                                      
1Angola, Belize, Botswana, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, 
Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myan mar, Nepal, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sierra 
Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania,  Tonga and Vietnam. G/LIC/M/26 
Page 2  
 
  Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b)); thus 30 Members had yet to submit their notifications.  Concerning 
notifications of new licensing procedures or chang es in existing procedures (under Paragraphs 1-4 of 
Article 5), only 27 Members, counting the Eur opean Communities as one, had notified new licensing 
procedures or changes in the existing procedures;  of this, one Member (Papua New Guinea) had 
notified changes to import licensing procedures  without submitting the initial notification of 
legislation or replies to the Questionnaire.  In a ddition, the Chairperson in formed the Committee that, 
while Article 5.5 of the Agreement allowed Me mbers to submit counter-notifications where a 
Member considered that another Member had not notified the institution of a licensing procedure or 
changes in the procedures, no such counter-notifica tions had been received up to the date of this 
meeting.  As to the replies to the Questionnaire
2, notifications under Article 7.3, only a cumulative 
total of 89 Members, counting the European Comm unities as one, had submitted their replies since the 
entry into force of the WTO Agreement;  thus 35 Members have never submitted their responses to 
the Questionnaire and for this year, the Committee had received notifications under Article 7.3 from 
only 27 Members.  For Article 7.3 notifications, th e annual deadline of 30 September was not often 
respected by many Members.  He also reminded the Committee that, at the end of each year, the 
Central  Registry of Notifications sent each Member a list of notifications that should be made under 
all WTO Agreements in the following year, and th at this was followed up with periodic reminders, 
twice a year, to those Members who had not fulfilled th eir notification obligations.  In spite of this, the 
compliance with the notification obligations under th is Agreement continued to remain low.  He 
therefore urged all those Members who had not yet pr ovided information of thei r laws and regulations 
relevant to import licensing, not replied to the annu al Questionnaire, or not notified the institution of 
new import licensing procedures or changes since their previous notifications, to  do so without further 
delay.  Members who did not apply import licensing pr ocedures or had no laws or  regulations relevant 
to the Agreement were also required to notify th e Committee of this fact, so that Members could 
obtain a complete overview of the licensing regime s of all Members.  Members who had questions 
about the notification requirements or who woul d like assistance were requested to consult the 
Secretariat.  In fact, after a reminder sent by the Ch air in July 2007, many delegations had approached 
the Secretariat to request its assi stance in the notifying process.  Responses and explanations had been 
provided and most of these delega tions had now submitted notifications or had expressed that they are 
in the process of preparing their notifications and would submit them soon.   1.2 The representative from the United States
 highlighted the importance of submitting 
notifications and thanked Members that had submitte d notifications to be considered at the present 
meeting.  In the view of his delegation, notifying the licensing system or the lack of it in the WTO membership was central to the obligations of th is Agreement.  Compre hensive and consistent 
notification provided a complete overview of the licen sing regimes in place within the trading system.  
He thanked Kuwait, for having subm itted its first notification and urge d those countries that had never 
submitted a notification under the Agreement to do so  promptly.  He also thanked the Chair and the 
Secretariat for their continuing efforts to encourag e Members to comply with notification obligations, 
such as sending reminders to Members about notific ations and reminding delegations to respond to 
questions posed by other Members;  those efforts had significantly improved the situation.  He also informed the Committee that his delegation would be promptly submitting the US responses to the 
Questionnaire under Article 7.3. 
 
1.3 The representative of Mauritania
 stated that most of the countries that had never submitted 
notifications were least developed or African count ries and that, in his view, technical assistance 
should be directed at these countries in particular .  He also said that his delegation had submitted a 
request to the Secretariat asking for technical assi stance in the field of notification obligations in 
general and that it would be a ppropriate to include notifica tions under this Agreement. 
 
                                                      
2 The Questionnaire is annexed to document G/LIC/3.  G/LIC/M/26 
 Page 3 
 
 
  1.4 In response, the Chairperson  stated that technical assistance could only be made available 
upon the request of the individual Member states.  He therefore encouraged Mauritania and any other 
Members to submit their requests to the WTO Secretariat in this regard.   
 1.5 The Secretariat
 stated that the Institute for Traini ng and Technical Assistance would be 
informed about the request from the delegation of Mauritania to include, among the issues to be dealt 
with on the occasion of the technical assistance activity, the transparency obligations under the 
Agreement on Import Licensing Regimes.  1.6 The Committee took note
 of the statements made. 
 
1.7 The Chairperson  informed the Committee that the follo wing documents were before it for 
consideration: document G/LIC/Q/ARG/3 containing questions from the United States to Argentina; 
document G/LIC/Q/BRA/3/Add.3 containing questions  from the United States to Brazil; document 
G/LIC/Q/IDN/7/Add.2 containing questions fro m the United States to Indonesia; document 
G/LIC/Q/ARG/4 containing the replies from Ar gentina to the United States; document 
G/LIC/Q/CHN/20 containing the replies from China to Australia;  document G/LIC/Q/GTM/3 containing the replies from Guatemala to Mexico; document G/LIC/Q/IND/10 containing the replies from India to the Unites States; documents G/ LIC/Q/IDN/8/Add.1 and G/LIC/Q/IDN/8/Add.2 
containing the replies from Indonesia to the United States;  and document G/LIC/Q/MYS/5 containing the replies from Malaysia to Australia.      
 
1.8 The representative of the Unites States
 thanked Argentina for its responses contained in 
document G/LIC/Q/ARG/4.  His delegation continued to  have an interest in the new import licensing 
procedures announced by Argentina for toys and foot wear in its notifications G/LIC/N/2/ARG/8 and 9 
and in its updated responses to the Questionnaire in document G/LIC/N/3/ARG/3.  These documents 
provided general information about Argentina's import licensing regime, but the US still had 
questions regarding the procedure for footwear and toys.  1.9 Given that the explanation provided by Arge ntina in document G/LIC/Q/ARG/4 noted that 
import licences had not been established to administ er safeguard measures or quotas, but intended to 
protect "the right of consumers to adequate a nd truthful information", the US would appreciate 
additional information on how import licences on f ootwear were allocated to both foreign and 
domestic producers and on how the verification proce dure was administered by domestic agencies.   
Argentina had also stated that the processing time fo r applications for footwear "usually takes from 10 
to 30 days" even though there was no set time-fra me in Resolution 486/2005.  However, the US 
exporters continued to experience longer processi ng delays of 60-90 days;  the US would also 
appreciate further information with regard to th is apparent discrepancy between the time-frames 
identified by Argentina in its respon se and those experienced by exporters. 
 1.10 With regard to Argentina's notification G/LIC/N/2/ARG/8 concerning the establishment of 
Resolution No. 485/2005 of the Ministry of Econ omy and Production of 30 August 2005,  which 
required import licences for certain tariff lines corr esponding to the toy sector and described these 
licences as non-automatic, his delegation was still looki ng for confirmation that these licences were 
non-automatic and for information on how app lications for these licences were considered. 
 1.11 While Argentina had provided information on  the footwear verification mechanisms, the US 
had yet not received further explanation of the veri fication mechanisms for toys.  Thus, his delegation 
would appreciate clarification on whether and how the verification process for toys operated and the 
assurance from the Argentinean authorities that its import licensing regime for these products was 
fully consistent with WTO requirements.  G/LIC/M/26 
Page 4  
 
  1.12 The representative of Argentina
 thanked the US for its questions and comments and informed 
the Committee that she would convey the c oncerns of the US to her Capital.  
 1.13 With respect to Brazil's import licensing regimes, the representative of the United States
 
highlighted two issues:  lithium and lithium products;  and the suspension of import licences for 
certain Mattel toys.  Concerning lithium, his dele gation had taken note of the notifications made by 
Brazil under Articles 5; 7.3;  and 1.4(a) and 8. 2(b), contained, respectively, in documents 
G/LIC/N/2/BRA/3;  G/LIC/N/3/BRA/5;  and G/LIC/N/1/BRA/3.  These documents provided general information about Brazil's import licensing regime, but  did not answer the questions submitted by the 
US regarding certain lithium products, including lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate;  his 
delegation had requested repeatedly, during the last  three years, commercial information on import 
licensing requirements applied by Brazil to natu ral lithium products such as lithium carbonate and 
lithium hydroxide which were widely available on global markets since they were important 
components in manufacturing a number of common commercial products.  His delegation was not 
aware of any country other than Brazil, which r estricted the import of natural lithium compounds.   
 
1.14 At the April 2007 Committee meeting, the US delegation had asked for an update on the 
findings of the Inter-Ministerial Group and had al so submitted new written questions to Brazil which 
were circulated in document G/LIC/ Q/BRA/3/Add.3.  In bilateral meetings, the US had received some 
additional information;  nevertheless, his delegation wa nted to reiterate its request to Brazil to provide 
the Committee with the findings of the Inter-Minis terial Group, to respond to the written requests and 
to ensure that the Brazilian import licensing regime  for these products was fully consistent with WTO 
requirements.  1.15 With regard to Mattel toys, his delegati on had understood that the Brazilian Ministry of 
Development, Industry and External Commerce had issued recently a notice suspending the issuance 
of import licences to all Mattel products.  He ask ed Brazil to inform the Committee whether it 
intended to notify the modification of its existing im port licensing requirement to the WTO and, if the 
scope and duration of the suspension of the impor t licence on Mattel could be estimated with some 
certainty.  1.16 In response, the representative of Brazil
 said that on the two specific questions related to 
Mattel toys he would consult with  his Capital.  With regard to lithium products, he informed the 
Committee that two bilateral meetings between Brazil and the US had taken place recently where 
there was an exchange of information and views about  this issue.  On that occasion his authorities had 
reassured the US that the subject was being consid ered.  However, the process of discussion continued 
to be long among the two countries and th e US delegation was aware of it.   
 
1.17 The representative of the United States,  when referring to Indonesia's pledge at recent 
bilateral meetings in May to abolish import lic ensing requirements for textile products, requested 
information on the results of Indonesia's studies c oncerning the time schedule for elimination of the 
import licensing programme.  
1.18 The representative of Guatemala
 requested that the Secretariat take the issue of importation of 
eggs off the Agenda if there were no further comments from Mexico.  1.19 The representative of the United States
 thanked India for its written response on the coverage 
of manufactured goods circulated in document G/LI C/Q/IND/10.  He sought further clarification from 
India on the following:  (i) its justification fo r requiring import licences for remanufactured goods;  
(ii) on how India defined "remanufactured" goods ;  (iii) an indication on whether licences for 
remanufactured goods were granted automatically and, if not, what were the factors considered by the 
DGFT in granting licences for these goods;  (iv) if India's tariff schedule distinguished between  G/LIC/M/26 
 Page 5 
 
 
  remanufactured goods, second-hand goods, and new goods ;  and, (v) if there were regulations 
applicable to the domestic production of remanufactured goods.  1.20 The representative from India
 said that he would consult with his Capital and would come 
back with the replies.   
 
1.21 The representative of Australia  thanked Malaysia for its response, as contained in document 
G/LIC/Q/MYS/5.  1.22 The Committee took note
 of the statements made. 
 
2. Notifications 
(i) Notifications under Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2( b) of the Agreement (publications and/or   
legislation) 
2.1 The Chairperson  recalled that Articles 1.4(a) and 8.2(b) and notification procedures, as had 
been agreed by the Committee3, required all Members to publis h their laws, regulations and 
administrative procedures, and notify these to th e Committee upon becoming a Member of the WTO, 
together with copies of any relevant publications or  laws and regulations.  Any subsequent changes to 
these laws and regulations were also required to be  notified.  He informed  the Committee that there 
were eight notifications that had been received since the last meeting from the following Members: 
Armenia, India, Kuwait, Mauritius, Turkey and Th ailand, contained in documents G/LIC/N/1/ARM/3 
and 4; G/LIC/N/1/IND/10; G/LIC/N/1/KWT/1;  G/LIC/N/1/MUS/2;  G/LIC/N/1/TUR/5 and 6; and 
G/LIC/N/1/THA/1, respectively.  He also inform ed the Committee that the notification from Thailand 
was not available in the three WTO official languages and that there was a notification from 
Colombia, G/LIC/N/1/COL/2, received after the ai rgram was issued.  These two notifications would 
be considered at the next meeting. 
 
2.2 The Committee took note  of the notifications and statements made. 
 
(ii) Notifications under Article 5 of the Agreement (new import licensing procedures, changes to 
existing licensing procedures and reverse notifications)  
2.3 The Chairperson  recalled that under paragraphs 1 to 4 of Article 5, Members who instituted 
licensing procedures or changes in these procedur es, were required to notify the Committee within 
60 days of the publication of these procedures.  Para graph 2 of Article 5 listed the information that 
should be included in such notifications.  Members also had to submit copies of the publications in 
which this information was publishe d.  Furthermore, paragraph 5 of  Article 5 provided the possibility 
of making counter-notifications, where a Member co nsidered that another Member had not notified a 
licensing procedure or changes therein, in accordance with paragraphs 1-3 of Article 5. He informed 
the Committee that under this provision there were five  notifications submitted by Argentina and 
India:  G/LIC/N/2/ARG/7/Add.1;  G/LIC/N/2/ARG/11; G/LIC/N/2/ARG/12;  G/LIC/N/2/ARG/13; and G/LIC/N/2/IND/9.  2.4 The Committee took note
 of the notifications.   
 
                                                      
3 G/LIC/3. G/LIC/M/26 
Page 6  
 
  (iii) Notifications under Article 7.3 of the Agreem ent (Replies to the Questionnaire on Import 
Licensing Procedures) 
2.5 The Chairperson
 informed the Committee that there were  nineteen notifications listed in the 
airgram convening this meeting, received from Argen tina; Armenia; Barbados;  Cameroon;  Chile; the 
European Communities;  Gambia; Grenada;  Haiti;  I ndia; Japan;  Korea;  Macao, China;  Nigeria;  
Peru;  the Philippines;  Trinidad and Tobago and Turkey.4  He also informed the Committee that, after 
the airgram was issued , ten more notifications under this provision had been received from: 
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, China, Cote  d'Ivoire, Hong-Kong, China; Morocco, Qatar and 
Tunisia.5   These notifications as well as the notif ications received from Macao, China and the 
Philippines which were available only in English, would be considered at the next meeting;  
nevertheless, delegations were also invited to rais e questions or comments to be considered by the 
notifying Members at that meeting.   2.6 The Chairperson recalled that, at the last m eeting, the Chair had informed the Committee that 
two notifications, received from Thailand (G /LIC/N/3/THA/1) and Trinidad and Tobago 
(G/LIC/N/3/TTO/5), were not available in the thre e WTO official languages and that these would also 
be considered at this meeting.   2.7 The representative of the United States
 thanked India for its notification under Article 7.3, 
circulated in document G/LIC/N/3/IND/9 and said that his authorities were reviewing the responses and might request further information in the near fu ture.  The US appreciated the fact that India had 
included the list of products subject to import licences in paragraph 2 of its response to the 
Questionnaire;  his delegation had also understood that  this list had been established in a 2006 version 
of the ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import Items 2004-2009 and that a version of it had also 
been provided to the Secretariat.  The latter was due to the fact that the link to ITC (HS) Classification  
on DGFT's website had not been operational for a bout six months;  thus, his authorities had been 
unable to know specifically which products required import licences.  He asked when did India expect 
that the ITC (HS) Classification tool would become available again on DGFT's website. 
 2.8 The US had also noted that on 11 June 2007 the Government of India had published a notice 
(Notification No. 8 (RE-2007)/2004-2009) which re quired import licences for refurbished computer 
components.  However, the responses to the Questio nnaire in document G/LIC/N/3/IND/9, had made 
no mention of computers or computer parts as being subject to licences.  Furthermore, the US was 
unaware of a notification of this licensing requirement .  His delegation re quested an update of India's 
responses to the Questionnaire in order to provide pro duct-specific replies;  in particular, it would be 
helpful if India could clarify whether import li cences were automatic or non-automatic, as point 
6:VIII of document G/LIC/N/3/IND/9 only indicated th at "applications will be examined as soon as 
they are received".  The US would also appreciate a clarification on how fees were charged on import 
licences;  this because according to the answer to question 12 in document G/LIC/N/3/IND/9, "fees are charged on applications for licences according to  the value of imports to be made".  Thus, a 
clarification on how did this fee determination re late to the "approximate cost of the services 
rendered", as referred to in GATT/94 Article II, would be appreciated. 
 
                                                     
 
4 G/LIC/N/3/ARG/4; G/LIC/N/3/ ARM/4; G/LIC/N/3/BRB/4; G/LIC/ N/3/CMR/2; G/LIC/N/3/CHL/3; 
G/LIC/N/3/EEC/10 and Add.1; G/LIC/N/3/GMB/2; G/LI C/N/3/GRD/2; G/LI C/N/3/HTI/4; G/LIC/N/3/IND/9; 
G/LIC/N/3/JAP/5; G/LIC/N/3/KO R/6; G/LIC/N/3/MAC/10; G/LIC/ N/3/NGA/3; G/LIC/N/3/PER/5; 
G/LIC/N/3/PHL/5; G/LIC/N/3/ TTO/6 and G/LIC/N/3/TUR/7. 
5 G/LIC/N/3/BGD/4; G/LI C/N/3/BRA/6; G/LIC/N/3/CAN/6; G/LI C/N/3/COL/5; G/ LIC/N/3/CHN/6; 
G/LIC/N/3/CIV/2; G/LIC/N/3/HKG/1 1; G/LIC/N/3/MAR/6; G/LIC/N/ 3/QAT/4 and G/LIC/N/3/TUN/5, 
respectively.  G/LIC/M/26 
 Page 7 
 
 
  2.9 The representative form India  thanked the US for its questions;  with regard to the website 
address, he said that his delegation, almost on a daily basis, consulted it and that the Indian Ministry was frequently updating the informati on contained in the site.  The exact address had been included in 
India's notification but he would contact the US dele gate in this regard.  Concerning the refurbished 
computer components he would contact his Capital in order to obtain the replies to this issue.  With 
regard to product specific replies contained in Indi a's response to the Questionnaire, he said that it 
would be very difficult for his authorities to provi de the import policy for each one of the products.  
There was a list of 460 items which were covered by  a licence while the rest of the products were 
automatic;  the list, the adjust core and the import policy were contained in the submission.  
Concerning the features for the applications, he woul d report back on this after consulting his Capital.  
Referring to the remanufactured goods he said that I ndia did not treat them separately but as imports 
of second-hand goods;  Thus, the policy as well as the procedure applied to second-hand goods would 
also apply to remanufactured goods:  filing the app lication and then consideration by the government 
based on merits.  He also requested the US to send these questions in written form to allow his 
authorities to provide further details. 
 
2.10 The representative from the United States
 thanked India for the responses;  his delegation 
would contact him after the meeting to make sure they were using the correct web internet access address, which would solve various concerns.    2.11 The Committee took note
 of the notifications and statements made. 
 
3. Sixth Transitional Review under Paragraph 18 of the Protocol on the Accession of the 
People's Republic of China (WT/L/432). 
3.1 The Chairperson  recalled that the fifth transitional review of the implementation by China of 
the WTO Agreement and of the related provisions of the Protocol, under paragraph 18 of the Protocol 
of Accession of China (WT/L/432), had been carried out in 2006 by the subsidiary bodies of the 
WTO, including the Committee on Import Licensi ng, which had a mandate covering China's 
commitments under the WTO Agreement or China's Pr otocol of Accession.  The Committee's report 
to the Council for Trade in Goods on that review had been circulated in document G/LIC/15.  The 
Committee would conduct the sixth transitional review at the present meeting.  He also informed the 
Committee that since the last me eting, the Secretariat had received one submission from the United 
States (G/LIC/Q/CHN/21) containing questions on China's import licensing procedures.  The 
Secretariat had also received, after the airgram convening this meeting was issued, a communication 
from China containing information required by para graph IV:3 of Annex 1A of the Protocol of 
Accession which had been circulated in document G/LIC/W/30.  
3.2 The representative of the United States
 stated that his delegation considered the transitional 
review on ILP an important process regarding China' s accession to this Organization;  his delegation 
looked forward to continuing dialogue with China on the import system for poultry and on the import of bulk agriculture commodities
6 as well as on other questions and procedures as they arise.    
 3.3 The representative of the People's Republic of China
 thanked the United States for its 
questions and comments and, in response to the latter, said that:  (i) the purpose of the import 
registration system for poultry was to collect st atistics and to prevent and control potential bird 
influenza.  The local Bureau of Commerce or th e Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation 
was in charge of these applications.  The registra tion certificates were granted automatically if the 
application forms were completed correctly.  Ho wever, those applicants having forged records 
concerning automatic import licences would not be gr anted a certificate.  In view of the above, his 
delegation did not find the system unnecessary, nor tr ade restrictive.  Concerning the statistics 
                                                      
6 See G/LIC/Q/CHN/21. G/LIC/M/26 
Page 8  
 
  requested by the US, his delegation would contact th e local agencies after the National holiday to see 
whether these would be available;  (ii) the dr aft administrative measure of reporting information 
through publications on the import of bulk agriculture commodities had the intention to strengthen market transparency in the sector in order to preven t price fluctuation and to provide market access to 
small- and medium-sized new enterprises.  In th e past, his authorities had observed price manipulation 
by some large enterprises which took a large proporti on of the market share and distorted the market 
in a considerable manner.  He also noted that th e draft measure was not yet enforced and that his 
delegation would welcome Members' comments to be dealt bilaterally. 
 3.4 The representative from the United States
 thanked China's remarks and replies to the US 
questions and expressed his hope that these would be the start of an ongoing and detailed dialogue.  
With regard to the automatic registration form, his delegation understood the need to have some 
control of imports, especially in an area, such as China, where the bird flu epidemic was present.  
Nevertheless, the US delegation was of the opinion th at there might be some other way in which to 
handle the issue without resorting to import licences.  Concerning the draft measure on import 
reporting on the import of bulk agriculture commoditi es, China was the only country that considered 
the actual contract price as compared to a price for customs valuation purposes.  His delegation also 
understood the need for market transparency as the United States also had some reporting 
requirements on market transitions in its territory , but wondered whether there were other ways to 
meet those aims in China without resorting to import licensing.  He looked forward to discussing with 
China these issues in more detail. 
 
3.5 The Committee took note  of the statements made. 
 3.6 The Chairperson
 suggested that, to conclude th e Sixth Transitional Review under 
Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of th e People's Republic of China, a factual report on 
China's transitional review be submitted to the Coun cil for Trade in Goods (CTG).  As had been done 
previously, this factual report would refer to the rele vant paragraphs of the minutes of this meeting as 
well as the oral and written comments and questions submitted to China, and the information received 
from China.  The relevant paragraphs of the minut es which reflected the di scussion would be annexed 
to this report.    
3.7 The Committee so agreed
.  The report to the CTG on the sixth transitional review was 
circulated in document G/LIC/17.  
4. Report (2007) of the Committee to the Council for Trade in Goods  
4.1 The Chairperson
 said that the Committee was required to submit an annual report on its 
activities to the CTG.  A draft report to the CTG,  covering the activities of the Committee in 2007, 
had been circulated in document G/LIC/W/29 for the Committee's consideration.  The information 
covered in the draft report, includi ng its Annex, would be  updated to reflect the notifications received 
up to the present meeting, as well as the discussion at this meeting.  4.2 There were no comments on the draft report.  The Committee agreed
 to adopt the report, 
subject to the updating.  The report as revised and adopted was circulated as document G/L/836. 
 
5. Other Business 
(i) Information on technical assistance activities rel ated to the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures 
5.1 The Chairperson  informed the Committee that, since its last meeting, three technical 
assistance activities had taken place:  the first one in  Belgrade, Serbia, the second one in Belize City,  G/LIC/M/26 
 Page 9 
 
 
  Belize, and the third one in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  The general objectives of these activities were to 
enhance the administrative capability of the diffe rent authorities to clearly understand the aim, 
purposes and particularities of the Agreement.  Traini ng was also provided to enable the authorities to 
differentiate between the two types of import licences and other trade barriers whose legitimate 
objectives could be better obtained through less trade -restrictive and less trade-distorting measures 
than import licences such as technical regulations, san itary and phyto-sanitary measures, etc.  These 
areas were covered, as suggested by the local  authorities to better respond to the Annual 
Questionnaire as well as to concerns and qu estions raised by Members on import licensing 
procedures.  In the case of Serbia, it was also to f acilitate the task of the authorities in preparing their 
responses to Members during the accession process.  In the three cases, participants were 
representatives of the various ministries and governme ntal institutions who deal with import licensing 
regimes.  The private sector was also represented in the case of Belize.  One request for a national 
seminar had been received by the Secretariat from Jordan.   
 Dates of the next meetings
 
 
5.2 The Chairperson  informed Members that the Secretariat had tentatively reserved Thursday, 17 
April 2008  and Monday 20 October 2008  for the next meetings of the Committee, on the 
understanding that additional meetings would be convened if necessary.    5.3 The Committee took note
 of the information. 
 
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