. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/L/973 
31 October 2011 
 (11-5482) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2011) OF THE COMMITTEE OF  PARTICIPANTS ON  THE EXPANSION 
OF TRADE IN INFORMAT ION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS 
 
 
1. The Committee of Participants on the Expa nsion of Trade in Information Technology 
Products, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee" , was established pursuant to the provisions of the 
Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (WT/MIN(96)/16), hereinafter 
referred to as "the Ministerial Declaration", and the provisions for the Implementation of the 
Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information T echnology Products (G/L/160), in order to carry out 
the provisions of paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the Annex to the Declaration. 
2. The Committee has held two formal meetings in  2011:  i.e. on 24 May and 24 October.  The 
minutes of these meetings are contained in documen ts G/IT/M/53 and G/IT/M/54.  Mr Zahari MD 
ALI (Malaysia) was elected Chai rman of the Committee for 2011. 
3. The total number of participants to the Ministerial Declaration is seventy-three (73). At the 
Committee meeting of 24 October 2011, the Russian Fede ration stated its intention of joining the ITA, 
and indicated that in the coming weeks, it would send a formal letter of request to the Chairman of the 
Committee and subsequently, submit Russia's ITA sche dule of commitments to the Participants for 
verification.  The Committee's rules of procedur e provide for observer status in the Committee for 
WTO Members which are not participants to the Ministerial Declaration and governments that are 
observers to the Council for Trade in Goods.  Requests for observer status by international 
intergovernmental organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis.  Th e International Trade 
Centre (ITC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have been 
granted observer status; and the World Customs Organization (WCO) has been granted observer 
status to meetings where the issues of HS cla ssification and HS amendments are included in the 
agenda. 
4. The Committee continued its deliberations on the Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) Work 
Programme.  With regard to its work on the EM C/EMI Pilot Project, the Committee took note that 
among the 46 participants, 24 of them have provide d their survey responses and encouraged those 
who had not provided the information to do so with out any further delay.  In considering ways to 
advance and expand its work on NTMs other than  EMC/EMI, the Committee also heard reports and 
updates by participants on their contributions to the work on NTMs, including those in other WTO bodies, e.g., in the NGMA.   
5. The Committee further continued its work on classification divergences.  At the meetings of 
24 May and 24 October 2011, the Committee considered the draft decision proposed by the Chairman for the endorsement of List I - A items (G/IT/W/ 34).  The Chairman decided that he would hold 
consultations with Participants on the draft deci sion before the next meeting of the Committee.  
6. At the meeting of 24 May 2011, the Comm ittee had updates from th e European Union, 
proponent of the proposal (G/IT/W/28) concerning the review of ITA.  At the meeting of 24 October 
2011, the Committee heard answers fro m the European Union (JOB/IT/5) to the questions raised by G/L/973 
Page 2  
 
  ASEAN ITA Participants with regard to the pr oposal.  ASEAN ITA Participants acknowledged the 
European Union answers and provided its preliminary reactions. 
7. The Committee has consistently reviewed the status of implementation, a summary of which 
is provided in document G/IT/1 and its revisions.  The document noted that most participants had 
submitted the formal documentation for rectificat ion and modification of their WTO schedules in 
order to incorporate the commitments arising from the Ministerial Declaration and most had been 
certified by the Director General. One partic ipant still had not yet submitted the necessary 
documentation.   
8. At the meeting of 24 May 2011, the Comm ittee discussed the suggestion regarding the 
celebration of the 15
th anniversary of the ITA.  At the m eeting of 24 October 2011, the Committee 
agreed to organize a symposium during the second quarter of 2012 to commemorate the 15th 
anniversary of the ITA. 
9. The Chairman regularly informed the Committee under "Other Business" that participants 
continued to consult among themselve s on review of product coverage.  He encouraged delegations to 
continue their efforts.  
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