RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/SPEC/41 
20 April 2009 
 (09-1853) 
Committee on Market Access  
  
 
DRAFT 
 
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 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 su bmissions of HS96 documentation as set out in 
document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.42.  It also approved the draft decision on proc edures leading to the 
verification and certification of HS96 changes relating to the schedules of 64 Members 
(JOB(09)/21/Rev.1).]  
 
4. [The Secretariat reported on th e status of work concerning th e introduction of HS2002 changes 
to schedules of concessions using the CTS database]  5. [The Secretariat reported on developments concerning the work related to the transposition of 
schedules of concessions into HS 2007 using the CTS database. Under this agenda item, the  Committee 
took note of the methodology for the transposit ion of Members' CTS files into the HS2007 
nomenclature (JOB(09)/24 and Add.1).]  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. The Secretariat reported on the status of processing of IDB submissions, use of IDB 
information,  the status of software development and technical assistance. ]  7. [The Secretariat reported on the status of wo rk with respect to th e Consolidated Tariff 
Schedules (CTS) Database.   In this connection, the Committee took note of the formats for the CTS 
database concerning tariff commitments and sp ecific commitments in agriculture in HS2002 
nomenclature (JOB(09)/32).]  8. [The Committee took note of the report by the Chairman on consultations  held relating to the 
improvement of the timeliness and completeness of notifications.] 
 
9. [Under other business, the Committee took not e of two Secretariat documents. One which 
provides tariff information available in the tariff library and website addresses of national tariffs 
(G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.13), and the other which provides th e most recent information on the situation of 
schedules (G/MA/W/23/Rev.6).  The Committee also took note of the date of its next meeting.] 
10. [The Committee elected its Chairman for 2009.]  
 G/MA/SPEC/41 
Page 2  
 
   [The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the 
Committee meeting on 28 April  2009.]  
   G/MA/SPEC/41
 Page 3ANNEX  
 
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)
 
 
 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/SPEC/41 
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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