. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/MA/W/63/Add.3 
8 April 2008 
 (08-1578) 
Negotiating Group on Market Access Original:   English 
  
MARKET ACCESS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
Liberalisation of Trade in Fish and Fish Products
 
 
Communication from Canada; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; 
New Zealand; Norway; Oman;  Singapore; Thailand and Uruguay 
 
Addendum  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 4 April 2008 is being circulated at the request of the Delegations of Canada; Hong Kong, China; Icel and; New Zealand; Norway; Oman; Singapore; 
Thailand and Uruguay 
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DRAFT MODALITIES FOR THE LIBERALIZATION OF 
TARIFFS ON FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS 
 
1. In accordance with paragraph [12(a)] of the NAMA modalities, this document sets out 
modalities for the reduction and elimination of tari ffs on fish and fish products as part of a non-
mandatory fish and fish products sectoral initiative.  
Procedures/Process 
 
2 Participants in the fish and fish products sectoral initiative are expected to fulfil the 
commitments described in these modalities if ‘criti cal mass’ is reached, that is if WTO Members 
representing at least [90] percent of world trade in fi sh and fish products have  indicated their intention 
to participate in the fish and fish products sectoral.  3 Members are encouraged to notify proponents a nd the WTO Secretariat of their participation 
in accordance with paragraph [12(b)] of the NAM A modalities, and in any event no later than two 
months after the establishment of NAMA modalities.  In accordance with paragraph [12(c)] of the 
NAMA modalities, when submitting its initial draft ta riff schedule each participant shall record its 
commitments on a conditional basis relating to fish  and fish products in conformity with these 
modalities
1. 
 
4 Participants should meet no later than one month after the submission of draft schedules to 
review the state of participati on and decide how to proceed.   
 
 
 
 
                                                      
1 Those Members having their schedule prepared by th e Secretariat will notify their participation to the 
Secretariat. TN/MA/W/63/Add.3 
Page 2  
 
  Principal Sectoral Modality 
 
5 Participants will eliminate tariffs on the products  identified in paragraph 8 on 1 January of the 
year following entry into  force of the DDA result. 
Special and Differential Treatment
2 
 
6 As an exception to paragraph 5 above, developing country participants may: 
 (a) Implement their tariff reductions in [fou r] equal rate reductions .  The first reduction 
will be implemented on 1 January of the y ear following entry into force of the DDA 
results and each successive reduction will be made effective on 1 January of each of 
the following years. 
 (b) Choose up to [15] percent of their fish a nd fish product national tariff lines to bind at 
not more than [5] percent. 
 
(c) Choose one 6 digit sub-heading to bind at not more than [10] percent.  
7 In any year in which an affected tariff w ould be reduced further by commitments resulting 
from agreed NAMA modalities other than by these sectoral modalities, the lower of the resulting 
tariffs will be applied to the affected tariff line.     
 
Product Coverage 
 
8 The products in the following HS chapters, h eadings or parts thereof are covered by these 
sectoral modalities:  
 
HS Code Description 
 
HS 03 Fish and crustaceans, mollusc s and other aquatic invertebrates 
HS 0509 Natural sponges of animal origin 
HS 0511.91 Animal products not else where specified or included; dead 
animals of chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption 
HS 1504.10 Fish-liver oils and their fractions 
HS 1504.20 Fats and oils and their frac tions, of fish, other than liver oils 
HS 1603 ex Extracts and juices of fi sh or crustaceans, molluscs or other 
aquatic invertebrates 
HS 1604 Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared 
from fish eggs 
HS 1605 Crustaceans, molluscs and ot her aquatic invertebrates, prepared 
and preserved 
HS 2301.20 Flours, meals and pellets, of fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other 
aquatic invertebrates 
 
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2 Participants recognise the challe nges that may be faced by non-reci procal preference beneficiaries as 
a result of MFN liberalisation.   Participants are willi ng to consider ways of adjusting the modalities for the 
sectoral on fish and fish products to address specific issues in relation to the tariff lines identified in Annex 2 of 
the NAMA modalities.