WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/198 
6 May 2008 
 (08-2140) 
Committee on Market Access  
 
 
 
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE 
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
  
1. The Committee met on 16 April 2008 and examined the following issues: 
 
2. The Committee took note of the factual in formation provided by Members 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.40 and noted that the situ ation remained unchanged since October 2007.  
The Committee further noted that several Members had not followed the HS96 transposition procedures outlined in GATT document L/6905.  Neve rtheless, their consolidated tariff schedules 
(CTS) were in the HS96 nomenclature because the Secretariat had undertaken the work for them. 
However, the results of this work remained uncertif ied.  The Committee agreed that the Secretariat  
look into this  issue  and propose some soluti ons for examination by the Committee at its next 
meeting.   4. The Secretariat informed Members of the situa tion of work related to the transposition of 
schedules of concessions in HS2002 using the CTS database (reflected in JOB(06)8/Rev.7).  The 
Secretariat noted that the number of files approve d for certification could be much higher if only 
Members concerned could signal their approval.  It further noted that the number of files that had 
passed the multilateral review had reached  almost 80% of the membership.  
 5. On developments concerning the work related to the transposition of schedules of concessions 
into HS07 using the CTS database, the Secretariat noted that the work on the HS07 process had been 
delayed as a result of the HS02 exercise and the demands of the DDA negotiations.    
 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 document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.27. The 
Secretariat reported on the status of processing of  IDB submissions, use of IDB information,  the 
status of software development and technical assistan ce.  The Secretariat also reported on the status of 
work with respect to the Consolidated Ta riff Schedules (CTS) Database. The Committee was 
informed that the IDB and CTS data had been used, for inter alia calculation of AVEs and responding 
to requests arising from the negotiations.    
7. The Committee took note of document G/MA/NTM /QR/1/Add.11 which provided an update 
of the situation in respect of the notifications of  quantitative restrictions pursuant to the "Decision on 
notification Procedures for Quantitative Restricti ons" (G/L/59). The Committee also took note of 
document G/MA/NTM/W/3/Rev.1 whic h reflected the status of reverse notifications on non-tariff 
measures made pursuant to the Decision on reverse notification of non-tari9ff measures (G/L/60).  
The situation had not changed since 2001. 
 G/MA/198 
Page 2  
 
  8. The Committee took note of a Secretariat documen t which provided details on the most recent 
information available in the tariff library and the website addresses where more recent national tariffs 
could be found (G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.12).   9. The Committee re-elected Dr. Saeed (Pakistan) as Chairman for 2008.  
 
10.  The Committee took note that its next meeting will be scheduled for the week 
of 6 October 2008.    
   G/MA/198
 Page 3 
ANNEX  
 
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO A WAIVER 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)
 
 
 Seventeen 
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 
 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/848 G/C/W/595  
  G/MA/198 
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) 
  Twelve: 
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  
 None (Currently, 
of the four, two 
Members have withdrawn their 
reservation. Two 
are still verifying documents circulated by 
Panama)    Panama is working 
towards revising its 
documentation and hopes to conclude 
soon.  Requested one year.  
G/L/849 
G/C/W/596 
 
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