WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/L/938 
4 November 2010 
 (10-5863) 
  
 
 
 
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/243.  
2. At its meeting of 29 April, the Committee elected Mr. Daniel Owoko (Kenya) as Chairman of 
the Committee for the current year.  At its m eeting of 11 October, the Committee elected  
Ms. Sabrina Musumeci (Switzerland) as Vice-Chairperson.  
A. 
WAIVERS  
3. At its meeting of 29 April, the Comm ittee approved a waiver request from Argentina 
(G/L/918) in connection with the introduction 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. I
NTRODUCTION 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 Members pursuant to the decision on "Procedures leading to the verification and certification of HS96  changes 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 e to introduce HS2002 changes to 
schedules of concessions using the CTS database (JOB /MA/51).  In light of comments made at the 
meeting, the Committee agreed that the Secretaria t should revise the document and that Members be 
                                                      
1 G/L/896, dated 13 October 2009. 
2 The General Council adopted the draft waiver decision on  29 July 2010 (WT/L/801).  G/L/938 
Page 2  
 
  allowed time to review the changes. It was also agreed that if no comments were submitted following 
such a review,  the revised document
3 would be transmitted to the General Council for adoption.  
 
D. INTRODUCTION 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. 
IMPROVING THE TIMELINESS AND COMPLETENESS OF NOTIFICATIONS  
8. At its 29 April meeting, the Committee took note of the report by the Chairman on the 
outcome of action taken in respect of the Decision on Reverse 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 rela tion to the Decision on Notification 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, the status of software development and technical 
assistance.  The Committee took note of the report by the Secretariat on the implementation of the "Framework to enhance IDB notifications comp liance" (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 and 
approved a revised version of this document (JOB/MA/13/Rev.1)
4.  
11. Concerning dissemination of the databases, at its April meeting, 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 noted that in order to ma ke the information in the IDB and CTS database 
available to the public, the Secretariat had launche d the Tariff Analysis Online on 3 February 2010. 
At its meeting on 11 October, the Committee approve d the request (G/MA/W/103) from the European 
Bank for Reconstruction and Development fo r access to the IDB and CTS database.  
 
                                                     
 
3 In light of comments made on the revised document, the Chairman proposed that JOB/MA/51 be once 
again considered by Members and a time-period was given for comments.  As no comments were received, 
document JOB/MA/51 was considered approved by the Committee and was re-issued as G/MA/W/104.  This 
document was forwarded to the General Council for adoption. 
4 The approved document was re-issued as G/MA/244.  G/L/938 
 Page 3 
 
 
  H. OTHER ACTIVITIES  
12. At its meeting in April, the Committee took note of the information provided  by 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 rounds of negotiations.  The Committee also took  note of the Secretariat 
document which provided website addresses of  national tariffs (G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.14).  
 
 
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