WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/236 
4 May 2009 
 (09-2147) 
Committee on Market Access  
  
 
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE 
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
 
 1. The Committee met on 28 April 2009 and examined the following issues: 
 
2. The Committee took note of the factual informa tion provided by Member s who were requesting 
a waiver extension for the introduction of HS96 changes to their schedule. The information is 
summarized in the Annex to this report.  
3. The Committee took note of the status of submissions of HS96 documentation as set out in 
document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.42.  It also approved the draft decision on procedures leading to the 
verification and certification of HS96 change s relating to the schedules of 64 Members 
(JOB(09)/21/Rev.1)
1.  
 4. The Secretariat reported on the status of wo rk concerning the introduction of HS2002 changes 
to schedules of concessions using the CTS database as reflected in document JOB(06)/8/Rev.9.  Only 
ten files remained to be sent for multilateral review.  It appeared that not much progress had been made since its last report, however, the Secretaria t highlighted some of the problems encountered in 
finalizing the work.  The Secretariat also noted that the number of files approved for certification would be much higher if only Members concerned could signal their approval.  
 
5. The Secretariat reported on developments concer ning the work related to the transposition of 
schedules of concessions into HS2007 using the CTS da tabase.  In this connection, the Committee had 
before it document JOB(09)/24 an d its addendum. In these documents, the Secretariat had proposed 
practical solutions aimed at simplifying as much as possible the structure of Members' schedules, while preserving their rights and obligations when und ertaking the transposition exercise. In light of a 
request made by one delegation for more time to review the documents, the Committee agreed with 
the Chairman's conclusion that the documents be  considered approved provided no comments were 
forthcoming by any Member within two weeks from the date of the meeting.  The Committee also 
agreed that developed Members as well as those developing Members preparing their own HS07 files 
should submit that information before 31 October 2009.  
 
6. With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base, the Committee 
examined the status of IDB submissions on the basis of the documents G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.29 and 
Corr.1.  It also took note of the report by the Secretariat on additional submissions to the IDB, 
technical assistance and software development. Th e Secretariat informed Members that it would be 
organizing in the month of May, presentations fo llowed by a hands-on training session on the new 
features of the Internet Analysis Facility in English,  French and Spanish. Additionally, the Secretariat 
reminded delegations that on 18-19 May the Secret ariat would be organizing jointly with ITC, 
UNCTAD and the World Bank a Data Day where one of the main objectives was to raise policy makers' awareness on the range of data-related issues a nd introduce users to vari ous data applications.  
 
                                                     
 
1 Re-issued as G/C/W/619.  G/MA/236 
Page 2  
 
  7. The Committee took note of the Secretariat re port on the work relating to the Consolidated 
Tariff Schedules database.  In this connection, th e Secretariat had circulated document JOB(09)/32  
which presented the format that would be u sed in the new version of the CTS in HS2002 
nomenclature.  Two delegations requested more time  to review the document.  In light of their 
interventions, the Committee accepted the Chairman's  conclusion that this document be considered 
approved by the Committee provided no comments we re forthcoming by any Member within two 
weeks from the date of the meeting.   8. The Committee took note of the report by the Ch airman on consultations held relating to the 
improvement of the timeliness and completeness of notif ications.  He informed Members that this was 
the same report he had sent to the Chairman of the Trade Policy Review Body.  A point was made by 
one delegation that an examina tion should take place on how to tap the extensive amount of NTB 
information already contained in-house.    9. Under other business, the Committee took note  of two Secretariat documents. One which 
provided tariff information available in the tariff library and website addresses of national tariffs 
(G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.13), and the other which provi ded updated information on the situation of 
schedules (G/MA/W/23/Rev.6).  The Committee also took note that its next formal meeting was 
scheduled for 9 October 2009. 
10. The Committee elected Mr Barney Riley (New Zealand) for 2009.   
 
 
  
   G/MA/236
 Page 3ANNEX  
 
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO WAIVERS REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF  
INTRODUCING HS 96 CHANGES TO A SCHEDULE OF CONCESSIONS 
 
Member Date of 
original 
waiver Date of submission of 
HS documentation N° of 
extensions 
and dates N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been initiated N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been concluded 
 Status of 
outstanding 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations Outlook for 
concluding the 
process Request for a 
waiver and draft 
decision 
1. Argentina 13.12.1995  G/SECRET/HS96/30  (16.10.1996)  
G/SECRET/HS96/30/
Corr.1  (16.05.2000)
 
 
 Eighteen: 
18.07.1996 24.04.1997 
22.10.1997 
24.04.1998 14.10.1998 
15.06.1999 
04.11.1999 03.05.2000 
08.12.2000 
08.05.2001 13.05.2002 
15.10.2003 
24.07.2003 20.10.2004 27.07.2005 
28.07.2006 
27.07.2007 31.07.2008 
 Four Three Information is still 
being exchanged with the EC with 
regard to a series of 
tariff headings.
 An extension is requested in order to complete the ongoing 
process with the EC. 
 Requested one year.  
G/L/884 G/C/W/616  
  G/MA/236 
Page 4 
Member Date of 
original 
waiver Date of submission of 
HS documentation N° of 
extensions 
and dates N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been initiated N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been concluded 
 Status of 
outstanding 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations Outlook for 
concluding the 
process Request for a 
waiver and draft 
decision 
2. Panama 24.04.1998 G/SECRET/HS96/48 
(04.04.2001) 
 G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Add.1 
(18.03.2002)   
G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Rev.1 (4 June 2002) 
 
G/SECRET/HS96/48/Rev.1/Corr.1 
(26.02.03) 
 G/SECRET/HS96/48/
Rev.2 
(23.03.2009)  Thirteen: 
14.10.1998 
15.06.1999 04.11.1999 
03.05.2000 
08.12.2000 08.05.2001 13.05.2002 
24.07.2003 
17.05.2004 27.07.2005 
28.07.2006 
27.07.2007 31.07.2008 
 
 Currently, of the 
four, two 
Members have withdrawn their 
reservation. Two 
are still verifying revised documentation 
circulated by 
Panama.    Panama submitted 
revised HS96 
documentation and is awaiting comments.  Requested one year.  
G/L/885 
G/C/W/617 
 
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