. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
G/IT/W/35 
10 October 2011 
 (11-4940) 
Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in 
Information Technology Products  
 
 
 
DRAFT1 
 
REPORT (2011) OF THE COMMITTEE OF  PARTICIPANTS ON  THE EXPANSION 
OF TRADE IN INFORMAT ION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS 
  
1. The Committee of Participants on the Expa nsion of Trade in Information Technology 
Products, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee" , was established pursuant to the provisions of the 
Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (WT/MIN(96)/16), hereinafter 
referred to as "the Ministerial Declaration", and the provisions for the Implementation of the 
Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information T echnology Products (G/L/160), in order to carry out 
the provisions of paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the Annex to the Declaration. 
2. The Committee has held two formal meetings in 20 11:  i.e. on 24 May [and 24 October].  The 
minutes of these meetings are contained in documents G/IT/M/53 and [G/IT/M/54].  [Mr. Zahari MD ALI (Malaysia) was elected Chairman of the Committee for 2011]. 
3. The total number of participants to the Minist erial Declaration is seventy-three (73).  The 
Committee's rules of procedure provide for observer status in the Committee for WTO Members which are not participants to the Ministerial Decl aration and governments that are observers to the 
Council for Trade in Goods.  Requests for observe r status by international intergovernmental 
organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis.  The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the 
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Devel opment (OECD) have been granted observer 
status; and the World Customs Organization (WCO) has been granted observer status to meetings 
where the issues of HS classification and HS amendments are included in the agenda. 
4. [The Committee continued its deliberations on the Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) Work 
Programme.  With regard to its work on the EM C/EMI Pilot Project, the Committee took note that 
among the 46 participants, 24 of them have provide d their survey responses and encouraged those 
who had not provided the information to do so with out any further delay.  In considering ways to 
advance and expand its work on NTMs other than  EMC/EMI, the Committee also heard reports and 
updates by participants on their c ontributions to the work on NTMs, including those in other bodies of 
the WTO, e.g., in the NGMA].   
5. [The Committee further continued its work on classification divergences.  At the meeting[s] 
of 24 May [and 24 October] 2011, the Committee consid ered the draft decision proposed by the Chair 
for the endorsement of List I - A items (G/I T/W/34). The Committee also  discussed on how to 
advance the Committee's work on classification divergences for other items].  
6. At the meeting of 24 May 2011, the Comm ittee had updates from th e European Union, 
proponent of the proposal (G/IT/W/28) concerning th e review of ITA. [At the meeting of 24 October 
                                                      
1 This document will be updated to take into accoun t the discussions at the m eeting to be held on 24 
October 2011. G/IT/W/35 
Page 2  
 
  2011, the Committee heard responses from the Eur opean Union to the queries raised by the 
Participants with regard to the proposal].   
7. The Committee has consistently reviewed the status of implementation, a summary of which 
is provided in document G/IT/1 and its revisions.  The document noted that most participants had 
submitted the formal documentation for rectificat ion and modification of their WTO schedules in 
order to incorporate the commitments arising from the Ministerial Declaration and most had been 
certified by the Director General. [One par ticipant still had not yet submitted the necessary 
documentation].   
8. At the meeting of 24 May 2011, the Comm ittee discussed the suggestion regarding the 
celebration of the 15
th anniversary of the ITA. [At the meeting of 24 October 2011, the Committee 
agreed to organize a symposium during the second quarter of 2012 to commemorate the 15th 
anniversary of the ITA]. 
9. The Chairman regularly informed the Committee under "Other Business" that participants 
continued to consult among themselve s on review of product coverage.  He encouraged delegations to 
continue their efforts.  
 
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