. /.  RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/SPEC/46 
5 October 2010 
 (10-5064) 
Committee on Market Access  
  
 
DRAFT  
 
REPORT (2010) OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS 
 
 
1. Since the last review
1, the Committee on Market Access has held two formal meetings 
(29 April and 11 October 2010), two informal dedi cated sessions of the Committee (5 March and 
26 July 2010) and several consultations. The minu tes of the formal meetings are contained in 
documents G/MA/M/51 and Corr.1  and [G/MA/M/52]].   In addition, two periodic reports giving an 
overview of the issues discussed in the Committ ee are contained in documents G/MA/242 and 
[G/MA/...]. 
 2. At its meeting of 29 April, the Committee took note of the nomination of Mr. Daniel Owoko (Kenya) as Chairman of the Committe e for the current year and elected him by acclamation.  [At its 
meeting of 11 October, the Committee elected  (...) as the Vice-Chair.]  A. W
AIVERS  
3. At its meeting of 29 April, the Comm ittee approved a waiver request from Argentina 
(G/L/918) in connection with the introd uction of HS96 changes to its schedule2. [At its meeting of 
11 October, the Committee approved the extension of  the HS2002 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/637) 
and the extension of  the HS2007 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/638).] 
 
B. INTRODUCTION OF HS96  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
4. At its meetings in 2010, the Committee examin ed the situation related to the submission of 
HS96 documentation (G/MA/TAR/2/Re v.44 and 45) pursuant to the procedures laid out in GATT 
document L/6905.  The Committee also took note of the reports by the Chairman on the multilateral 
reviews held to examine the HS96 files of 64 Memb ers pursuant to the decision on procedures leading 
to the verification and certification of HS96 ch anges relating to the schedules of 64 Members 
(WT/L/756).   
C. I
NTRODUCTION OF HS2002  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
5.  At its meetings in 2010, the Committee took note of the reports provided by the Secretariat 
on the status of work concerning the introductio n of HS2002 changes to schedules of concessions 
using the CTS database as well as on the outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the 
Committee during which the HS02 files of Members were  examined.  [At its meeting in October, the 
Committee also considered some changes to the existing procedur es to introduce HS2002 changes to 
schedules of concessions using the CTS database (JOB/MA/51).] 
 
                                                      
1 G/L/896, dated 13 October 2009. 
2 The General Council adopted the draft decision on  29 July 2010 (WT/L/801).  G/MA/SPEC/46 
Page 2  
 
  D. I
NTRODUCTION OF HS2007  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
6. At its 29 April meeting, the Committee reviewed  the situation in relation to the exercise to 
introduce HS2007 changes to schedules of concessi ons using the CTS database pursuant to 
WT/L/673.  The Committee agreed to  maintain the suspension in place in respect of this exercise and 
to review the situation at a subsequent meeting.   
 
E.  INTRODUCTION OF HS2012  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
7. At its 29 April meeting, the Committee took note of the presentation by a representative from 
the WCO on the future HS2012 changes which were circulated in G/MA/W/100.   F. I
MPROVING THE TIMELINESS AND COMPLETENESS OF NOTIFICATIONS  
8. At its April meeting, the Committee took note of the report by the Chairman on the outcome 
of action taken in respect of the Decision on Reve rse Notification of Non-Tariff Measures (G/L/60).   
Also, during the year, the Committee took note of the reports by the Chairman on the consultations conducted in relation to the Decision on Notifi cation Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions 
(G/L/59).  
 
G. D
ATABASES – THE INTEGRATED DATA BASE (IDB)  AND THE CTS  DATABASE  
9. In respect to the IDB, at its formal meeti ngs in 2010, the Committee examined the status of 
IDB submissions on the basis of documents G/MA/I DB/2/Rev.31 and Rev.32.  The Secretariat also 
reported on inter alia  use of IDB information, IDB technical assistance and the status of software 
development (IDB reporting tools and internet anal ysis facility).  The Committee took note of the 
report by the Secretariat on the implementation of  the "Framework to en hance IDB notifications 
compliance" (G/MA/239). This Framework had been elaborated in the context of the Committee's 
discussion on improving the timeliness and completeness of notifications.  
  
10. Concerning the CTS database, at its meeti ng of 29 April, the Committee considered the 
revised formats to be used in the new versi on of the CTS database in the HS2002 nomenclature 
JOB/MA/13.  However, in light of some questi ons still remaining on this document, the Committee 
agreed to revisit it at a future meeting.  [At its meeting of 11 October, the Committee examined a 
revised version of this document (JOB/MA/13/Rev.1).]  
11. The Committee took note of the report by the Secretariat on the dissemination of the IDB and 
the CTS database (G/MA/238 and Add.1) where it  was not ed that in order to make the information in 
the IDB and CTS database available to the public, the Secretariat had launched the Tariff Analysis 
Online on 3 February 2010.    [At its meeting on 11 October, the Committee considered the request by 
the European Bank of Reconstruction for access to the IDB and CTS database (G/MA/W/103).]  
 H. O
THER ACTIVITIES  
12. At its meeting in April, the Committee took note of the information provided  Canada on its 
unilateral elimination of certain mfn applied tariffs (G/MA/W/101).  [At its meeting in October, the 
Chairman reported on an ongoing process to  dere strict certain bilateral negotiating documentation 
relating to earlier GATT r ounds of negotiations.] 
  The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the 
Committee meeting on 11 October 2010. 
 
__________