RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/W/24 
14 September 2005 
 (05-4011) 
Committee on Import Licensing  
  
DRAFT 
 
REPORT (2005) OF THE COMMITTEE ON IMPORT LICENSING 
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
 
 
1. The Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (hereinafter "the Agreement") which entered  
into force on 1 January 1995, establishes disciplines on users of import licensing systems with the principal objective of ensuring that the procedur es applied for granting import licences do not in 
themselves restrict trade.  It aims to simplify, clarify and minimize the administrative requirements necessary to obtain import licences. 
2. The Committee on Import Licensing was established to afford Members the opportunity of 
consulting on any matters relati ng to the operation of the Agreement or the furtherance of its 
objectives.  The Committee's Rules of Procedure, which were approved by the Council for Trade in 
Goods, are contained in document G/L/147.  
3. All Members of the WTO are ipso facto  members of the Committee.  Observer governments 
in the General Council of the WTO have Observe r status in the Committ ee. The International 
Monetary Fund, the World Bank and UNCTAD have regular Observer status in the Committee. 
4. The focus of this report is on the period si nce the Committee's last annual report (G/L/715), 
i.e. 1 October 2004-28 September 2005 (hereinafter "the  review period").  During the review period, 
the Committee held two meetings on 15 June  and [28 September] 2005 (G/LIC/M/21 [and 
G/LIC/M/22]).  At its meeting on 15 June 2005,  the Committee took note of the nomination of 
Ms. Pamela Cooper (Canada) as Chairperson of the Committee for the current year and elected her by 
acclamation.  At that meeting, the Committee el ected as Vice-Chairperson for the current year, 
Mr. Peter Govindasamy (Singapore).  Pursuant to Co mmittee's Rules of Procedure, they took office at 
the end of that meeting. 
5. Pursuant to Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b) of  the Agreement and procedures agreed by the 
Committee, all Members are required to notify thei r laws, regulations and administrative procedures 
relevant to import licensing and submit copies of any relevant publications or  laws and regulations 
upon becoming a WTO Member.  Any subsequent changes to these laws, regulations and 
administrative procedures are also required to be notified.  Since the entry into force of the WTO 
Agreement, [91] Members
1 have notified the Committee of their legislation and/or publications under 
these provisions.  During the review period, the Co mmittee received notifications from the following 
Members:   Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Croatia , Ecuador, India, Macedonia, Morocco, Peru and 
Chinese Taipei.  These notifications may be found in document series G/LIC/N/1/-.  Copies of publications and legislation submitted with these no tifications are available for consultation in the 
Secretariat. 
                                                     
 
1 The European Communities and its member States counted as one Member. G/LIC/W/24 
Page 2  
 
 6. Article 7.3 of the Agreement requires all Memb ers to provide replies to the Questionnaire on 
Import Licensing Procedures
2 by 30 September each year.  Since the entry into force of the WTO 
Agreement, [85] Members3 have made notifications under this pr ovision.  This includes replies to the 
Questionnaire from 11 Members in 1995,  22 Members in 1996, 25 Members3 in 1997, 26 Members 
in 1998, 20 Members3 in 1999, 32 Members3 in 2000, 23 Members3 in 2001, 41 Members3 in 2002, 
25 Members3 in 2003, 21 Members in 2004 and [13] Member s in 2005.  During the review period, the 
Committee received notifications from the follo wing Members:  Armenia, Bangladesh; Brazil; 
Cameroon; Croatia; Georgia; India; Korea; Macao, China; Madagascar; Morocco; Oman; Peru; Qatar; 
Saint Lucia; Tunisia and Uruguay.  These notifications  may be found in document series G/LIC/N/3/-. 
7. The Committee also received, pursuant to pa ragraphs 5.1-5.4 of Article 5, notifications 
relating to the institution of new import licensi ng procedures or changes in these procedures from 
Brazil, India, Jordan, Chinese Taipei and the Un ited States.  These notifications may be found in 
document series G/LIC/N/2/-.  Since the entry in to force of the WTO Agreement [26] Members3 have 
submitted notifications under these provisions.  Ar ticle 5.5 of the Agreement allows Members to 
submit reverse notifications, where a Member considers that another Member has not notified the 
institution of a licensing procedure or changes in  the procedures.  However, no such reverse 
notifications have been received under this provisi on since the entry into force of the Agreement. 
8. Written comments and questions from Members concerning the notifications submitted to the 
Committee and/or on import licensing procedures mainta ined by Members, and replies thereto, may 
be found in document series G/LIC/Q/-4.  During the review period, such comments and questions 
were submitted by the United St ates to Brazil, China, the Europ ean Communities and Turkey, and by 
the European Communities to Chin a.  During the same period responses were provided by Bahrain 
and Jamaica to the United States.  Statements of Members in this context, including responses given orally at the meetings, are reflected in the minutes of the meetings.  
9. The Committee has provided a regular forum for the discussion of specific notifications 
submitted by Members.  As evident in the Annex to th is report, there continues to be a low level of 
compliance with the mandatory notification require ments under Articles 1.4(a), 8.2(b) and 7.3 and 
with the ad hoc notification requirement under Article  5.  This low level of compliance of Members 
with the transparency obligations of the Agre ement has been the main preoccupation of the 
Committee for some time now.  10. At its meetings of 15 June  [and 28 September], the Chair e xpressed continuing concern over 
the failure of many Members to submit the require d notifications and once again urged Members who 
had not yet notified and had not updated their notifica tions or provided clarifications sought by other 
Members to do so as soon as possible.  [11. At its meeting of 28 September, the Comm ittee conducted the fourth transitional review, as 
appropriate to its mandate, of th e implementation by China of the WTO Agreement and of the related 
provisions of its Protocol of Accession
5, as provided for in Paragraph 18 of the Protocol on the 
Accession of the People's Republic of China to the WTO (G/LIC/M/22, paragraphs ...).  The report of 
the Committee to the Council for Tr ade in Goods on this review is contained in document G/LIC/-. 
  (To be completed following the meeting on 28 September 2005.)] 
 
                                                     
 
2 Annexed to document G/LIC/3.  
3 The European Communities and its member States counted as one Member. 
4 See understanding on Procedures for the Review of Notifications (G/LIC/4). 
5 WT/L/432.  G/LIC/W/24 
 Page 3 
 
 
 ANNEX  
 
Notifications  
 
 
Member Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b) 
Publications/legislation - 
First notification upon WTO 
Membership, ad hoc thereafter 
(date of latest communication) Article 7.3 
Replies to Questionnaire - 
Annual, by 30 September 
(date of latest communication) Article 5 - Ad hoc 
(date of latest 
communication) 
Albania Not notified G/LIC/N/3/AL B/1 (28.1.02) G/LIC/N/2/ALB/1 
(20.2.02) 
Angola Not notified Not notified  
Antigua & Barbuda G/LIC/N/1/ATG/1 (8. 12.01) G/LIC/N/3/ATG/1-2 (18.12.01)  
Argentina G/LIC/N/1/ARG/1-2 (19.12.97) G/LIC/N/3/ARG/1-ARG/2  + 
Add.1 (8.2.02) G/LIC/N/2/ARG/1-7 
(13.8.04) 
Armenia G/LIC/N/1/ARM/1 (29.9. 03) G/LIC/N/3/ARM/1 + Add.1 – 
ARM/2 (7.9.05)  
Australia G/LIC/N/1/AUS/1 + Add.1 
(28.4.97) G/LIC/N/3/AUS/1/Rev.1-
AUS/2 (24.5.02) G/LIC/N/2/AUS/1 
(28.5.04) 
Bahrain G/LIC/N/1/BHR/1 (27.5.97 ) G/LIC/N/3/BHR/1 (5.9.00)  
Bangladesh G/LIC/N/1/BGD/1-2 (1.3.05) G/LIC/N/3/BGD/1-2 (1.3.05)  
Barbados G/LIC/N/1/BRB/1 (4.10.96) G/LIC/N/3/BRB/1-2 (8.5.02)  
Belize Not notified Not notified  
Benin G/LIC/N/1/BEN/1 (18.12.96) Not notified  
Bolivia G/LIC/N/1/BOL/1 (29.5.97) G/LIC/N/3/BOL/1-2 + Corr.1 & 
BOL/3 (20.6.00)  
Botswana Not notified Not notified  
Brazil G/LIC/N/1/BRA/1-2/Rev.1 
(1.6.05) G/LIC/N/3/BRA/1-4/Rev.1 
(1.6.05) G/LIC/N/2/BRA/1/-2/ 
Rev.1(1.6.05) 
Brunei Darussalam Not notified G/LIC/N/3/BRN/1 (4.3.97)  
Bulgaria G/LIC/N/1/BGR/1-2 (16. 9.04) G/LIC/N/3/BGR/1-2+Add.1 
(16.9.04)   
Burkina Faso G/LIC/N/1/BFA/1 (8.1.97) G/LIC/N/3/BFA/1+Add.1 
(24.11.00)  
Burundi G/LIC/N/1/BUR/1 (3.4.01)  G/LIC/N/3/BUR/1-2 (12.10.01)  
Cambodia Not notified Not notified  
Cameroon G/LIC/N/1/CMR/1 (13.7.01 ) G/LIC/N/3/CMR/1 (5.11.04)  
Canada G/LIC/N/1/CAN/1 (29.1. 96) G/LIC/N/3/CAN/1-4 + Corr.1 
(2.1.02)  
Central African Rep. Not notified Not notified  
Chad G/LIC/N/1/TCD/1-2 (18.7.00 ) G/LIC/N/3/TCD/1-2 (13.6.01)  
Chile G/LIC/N/1/CHL/1 (16.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/CHL/1 + Adds.1-2 
(3.2.99)  
China G/LIC/N/1/CHN/1 & Add.1-
CHN/3-4 (23.12.04) G/LIC/N/3/CHN/1-3 (29.9.04)  
Colombia G/LIC/N/1/COL/1 + Add.1 
(4.12.00) G/LIC/N/3/COL/1 + Adds.1-2  - 
COL/2 (29.7.04)   
Congo Not notified Not notified  
Congo, Dem Rep. of Not notified Not notified  
Costa Rica G/LIC/N/1/CRI/1 (21.11.95) G/LIC/N/3/CRI/1-3   (15.12.00) 
  
Côte d'Ivoire G/LIC/N/1/CIV/1 (10. 1.02) G/LIC/N/3/CIV/1 (10.1.02)  
Croatia G/LIC/N/1/HRV/1-3+Corr.1 
(23.3.05) G/LIC/N/3/HRV/1-3 (23.3.05)  
Cuba G/LIC/N/1/CUB/1 (11.1.96 ) G/LIC/N/3/CUB/1-2 + Add.1 
(30.9.04)  
Djibouti Not notified Not notified  
Dominica G/LIC/N/1/DMA/1 (8.2.01)  G/LIC/N/3/DMA/1 (8.2.01)  
Dominican Rep. G/LIC/N/1/DOM/1 (28.4.04) G/LIC/N/3/DOM/1-2 (28.4.04)  G/LIC/W/24 
Page 4  
 
 Member Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b) 
Publications/legislation - 
First notification upon WTO 
Membership, ad hoc thereafter 
(date of latest communication) Article 7.3 
Replies to Questionnaire - 
Annual, by 30 September 
(date of latest communication) Article 5 - Ad hoc 
(date of latest 
communication) 
Ecuador G/LIC/N/1/ECU/1-2 (13..6 .05) G/LIC/N/3/ECU/1 + Add.1 - 
ECU/2 (25.10.02)  
Egypt Not notified Not notified  
El Salvador G/LIC/N/1/SLV/1 (13.1.04) Not notified  
European 
Communities G/LIC/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.2 + 
Adds.1-2 
EEC/2 + Adds.1-4 (6.1.03)  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/1 + Add.1 
EEC/2 + Adds.1-27  
EEC/3 +Adds.1-26 
EEC/4 + Add.1 
EEC/5  + Add.1 & Add.1/Corr.1 
EEC/6  + Add.1+ EEC/6/Corr.1 
(30.9.03) G/LIC/N/2/EEC/1-2 
(4.7.97) 
Fiji G/LIC/N/1/FJI/1 (30.7.97) G/LIC/N/3/FJI/1 (1.4.97)  
Gabon G/LIC/N/1/GAB/1-2 (5.3.02) Not notified  
Gambia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/GMB/1 (31.10.97)  
Georgia G/LIC/N/1/GEO/1 (22.3.02 ) G/LIC/N/3/GEO/1-2 (8.10.04)  
Ghana G/LIC/N/1/GHA/1 (15.4.04) G/LIC/N/3/GHA/1-3 (15.4.04)  
Grenada G/LIC/N/1/GRD/1 (13.3.02) Not notified  
Guatemala G/LIC/N/1/GTM/1-2 (20.1.00) G/LIC/N/3/GTM/1-2 
(3.9.04)  
Guinea  Not notified Not notified  
Guinea Bissau Not notified Not notified  
Guyana G/LIC/N/1/GUY/1 (5.4.02) G/LIC/N/3/GUY/1-2 (22.10.03)  
Haiti G/LIC/N/1/HTI/1 (8.10.99) G/LIC/N/3/HTI/1- 2 (27.4.00)  
Honduras G/LIC/N/1/HND/1 (31.10.96) Not notified  
Hong Kong, China G/LIC/N/1/HKG/1-5 (2 4.12.02) G/LIC/N/3/HKG/1 + Rev.1-2, 
HKG/2 -HKG/3 + Corr.1 
HKG/4 -8  (23.9.04) G/LIC/N/2/HKG/1-2 
(27.1.98)  
Iceland G/LIC/N/1/ISL/1 (8.1.99) G/LIC/N/3/ISL/1-3 (30.9.04)  
India G/LIC/N/1/IND/1/Rev.1 + 
IND/2 -8 (12.9.05) G/LIC/N/3/IND/1-7 + Corr.1 
(2.6.05)  G/LIC/N/2/IND/1-7 
(12.9.05) 
Indonesia G/LIC/N/1/IDN/1 (27.10.98) G/LI C/N/3/IDN/1-2 (12.5. 03) G/LIC/N/2/IDN/1 
(14.4.03) 
Israel Not notified Not notified  
Jamaica G/LIC/N/1/JAM/1 (1.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/JAM/1+ Adds.1-2 
(18.9.02) G/LIC/N/2/JAM/1 
(23.9.03) 
Japan G/LIC/N/1/JPN/1-2/Rev.1 
(7.1.97) G/LIC/N/3/JPN/1 + Corr.1- 
JPN/3 (28.1.04)  G/LIC/N/2/JPN/1-3 
(12.4.01) 
Jordan  G/LIC/N/1/JOR/1-2 + Add.1 
(19.8.03) G/LIC/N/3/JOR/1 (2.10.00) G/LIC/N/2/JOR/1-2 
(8.6.05) 
Kenya G/LIC/N/1/KEN/1 (9.5.03) G/LIC/N/3/KEN/1-2 + Add.1 
(9.5.03)  
Korea G/LIC/N/1/KOR/1-3 (3.4.98) G/LIC/N/3/KOR/1-4 (21.3.05)  
Kuwait Not notified Not notified  
Kyrgyz Republic G/LIC/N/1/KGZ/1 (6.1.00)  G/LIC/N/3/KGZ/1 (11.4.00)  
Lesotho Not notified Not notified  
Liechtenstein G/LIC/N/1/LIE/1 -2 (17.10.00) G/LIC/N/3/LIE/1 + Add.1 -
LIE/4 +Add.1  (25.2.03)  G/LIC/N/2/LIE/1 -2 
(17.10.00) 
Macao, China G/LIC/N/1/MAC/1  
+ Adds.1-3 – MAC/2 (16.1.04) G/LIC/N/3/MAC/1-7 (23.12.04)  
Macedonia, Former 
Yugoslav Rep. of G/LIC/N/1/MKD/1 (14.10.04) Not notified  
Madagascar G/LIC/N/1/MDG/1-2 (31.3. 00) G/LIC/N/3/MDG/1-2 (13.6.05)  
Malawi G/LIC/N/1/MWI/1 (10.5. 99) G/LIC/N/3/MWI/1 + Add.1 
(11.10.02)  
Malaysia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MY S/1 (4.12.97) G/LIC/N/2/MYS/1-2 
(21.7.99) 
Maldives Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MDV/1 (21.3.02)   G/LIC/W/24 
 Page 5 
 
 
 Member Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b) 
Publications/legislation - 
First notification upon WTO 
Membership, ad hoc thereafter 
(date of latest communication) Article 7.3 
Replies to Questionnaire - 
Annual, by 30 September 
(date of latest communication) Article 5 - Ad hoc 
(date of latest 
communication) 
Mali G/LIC/N/1/MLI/1 (23.7.01) G/LIC/N/3/MLI/1-2 (23.7.01)  
Mauritania Not notified Not notified  
Mauritius G/LIC/N/1/MUS/1 + Adds.1-3 
(4.5.98) G/LIC/N/3/MUS/1-2 + Corr.1 
(24.5.02)  
Mexico Not notified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/MEX/1 
(16.10.98) 
Moldova G/LIC/N/1/MDA/1 (9.1.02)  G/LIC/N/3/MDA/1 (30.1.02)  
Mongolia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MNG/1 (15.5.03)  
Morocco G/LIC/N/1/MAR/1+Adds.1-2 
(6.12.04) G/LIC/N/3/MAR/1-2 + Add.1-  
MAR/4 (6.12.04)  
Mozambique Not notified Not notified  
Myanmar Not notified Not notified  
Namibia G/LIC/N/1/NAM/1 (8.10.02) G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1-4 (8.10.02)  
Nepal Not notified Not notified  
New Zealand G/LIC/N/1/NZL/1 (2.8.96) G/LIC/N/3/NZL/1 + Add.1 
(24.3.98)  
Nicaragua G/LIC/N/1/NIC/1 (18.7.96) Not notified  
Niger G/LIC/N/1/NER/1 (10.12.97) Not notified  
Nigeria G/LIC/N/1/NGA/1 (16.2.98) G/LIC/N/ 3/NGA/1-2 (16.2.98)  G/LIC/N/2/NGA/1-2 
(16.2.98) 
Norway G/LIC/N/1/NOR/1-2 (3.11.97) G/LIC/N/3/NOR/1 + Corr.1-
NOR/2 +  Adds.1-2 (7.4.00)  
Oman  G/LIC/N/1/OMN/1 (9.1. 01) G/LIC/N/3/OMN/1 + Add.1-
OMN/2 (2.3.05) 
  
Pakistan G/LIC/N/1/PAK/1 (6.5.96) Not notified G/LIC/N/2/PAK/1 (6.5.96) 
Panama G/LIC/N/1/PAN/1-2 (19.10. 98) G/LIC/N/3/PAN/1-2 (2.3.04) 
 G/LIC/N/2/PAN/1 
(21.7.98) 
Papua New Guinea Not notified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/PNG/1 (6.2.98) 
Paraguay G/LIC/N/1/PRY/1 (21.5.03) Not notified  
Peru G/LIC/N/1/PER/1-2/Rev.1 
(8.2.05) G/LIC/N/3/PER/1-2 + Add.1 & 
PER/3/Rev.1 (8.2.05)  
Philippines G/LIC/N/1/PHL/1 (6.4.98) G/LIC/N/3/PHL/1-4 + Add.1 
(29.9.03)  
Qatar G/LIC/N/1/QAT/1 (24.3.98) G/LIC/N/3/QAT/1-2 (8.3.05)  
Romania G/LIC/N/1/ROM/1-2 (1 .3.99) G/LIC/N/3/ROM/1-2 +Add.1 
(12.12.00)  G/LIC/N/2/ROM/1-3 
(4.2.02) 
Rwanda Not notified Not notified  
Saint Kitts & Nevis G/LIC/N/1/KNA/1 (17.7.98) Not notified  
Saint Lucia G/LIC/N/1/LCA/1 (14.10.02) G/LI C/N/3/LCA/1-3 (7.4.05) G/LIC/N/2/LCA/1-2 
(14.10.02) 
Saint Vincent & 
Grenadines Not notified Not notified  
Senegal G/LIC/N/1/SEN/1 (14.10.02)  G/LIC/N/3/SEN/1-2 (14.10.02)  
Sierra Leone Not notified Not notified  
Singapore G/LIC/N/1/SGP/1-4 (22.9.04) G/LIC/ N/3/SGP/1-4 (5.11.03) G/LIC/N/2/SGP/1-3 
(22.9.04) 
Solomon Islands Not notified Not notified  
South Africa Not notified G/LIC/N/3/ZAF/1-3 + ZAF/4 
(11.9.02) G/LIC/N/2/ZAF/1 (9.7.97) 
Sri Lanka G/LIC/N/1/LKA/1 (5.5.03) G/LIC/N/3/LKA/1 (5.5.03)  
Suriname G/LIC/N/1/SUR/1 (10.12.03) Not notified  
Swaziland G/LIC/N/1/SWZ/1 (19.8.96) Not notified  
Switzerland G/LIC/N/1/CHE/1-2 (21. 9.00) G/LIC/N/3/CHE/1-4 + Add.1 
(21.2.03)  G/LIC/N/2/CHE/1-2 
(21.9.00) 
Chinese Taipei G/LIC/N/1/TPKM/1-3/Rev.1  + 
TPKM/4-6 (17.11.04) G/LIC/N/3/TPKM/1/Rev.1-
TPKM/2 (21.6.04) G/LIC/N/2/TPKM/1-4 
(17.11.04) G/LIC/W/24 
Page 6  
 
 Member Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b) 
Publications/legislation - 
First notification upon WTO 
Membership, ad hoc thereafter 
(date of latest communication) Article 7.3 
Replies to Questionnaire - 
Annual, by 30 September 
(date of latest communication) Article 5 - Ad hoc 
(date of latest 
communication) 
Tanzania Not notified Not notified  
Thailand Not notified Not notified  
Togo G/LIC/N/1/TGO/1 (8.5.03) G/LIC/N/3/TGO/1 (8.5.03)  
Trinidad & Tobago G/LIC/N/1/TTO/1 (28. 10.98) G/LIC/N/3/TTO/1-4 (30.7.04)  
Tunisia G/LIC/N/1/TUN/1 + Add.1 
(21.1.99) G/LIC/N/3/TUN/1-3 + Adds.1-
3 & TUN/4 (7.4.05)  
Turkey G/LIC/N/1/TUR/1, 
TUR/2/Rev.1-TUR/4 (22.9.03) G/LIC/N/3/TUR/1-5 (22.9.03)  
Uganda G/LIC/N/1/UGA/1 (16.8.96) G/LIC/N/3/UGA/1 + Add.1 
(8.11.00)  
United Arab 
Emirates G/LIC/N/1/ARE/1 (19.3.97) G/LIC/N/3/ARE/1 (11.4.00)  
United States G/LIC/N/1/USA/1 + Rev.1-
USA/2 (28.4.03) G/LIC/N/3/USA/1-3 (6.11.00) G/LIC/N/2/USA/1-2 
(20.6.05)  
Uruguay G/LIC/N/1/URY/1 -3 (17.9.01) G/LIC/N/3/URY/1 + Add.1- 
URY/2/Rev.1 & URY/3 
(5.7.05)  
Venezuela G/LIC/N/1/VEN/1 (12.10.02) G/LIC/N/3/VEN/1 + Corr.1-2 
(8.11.02) G/LIC/N/2/VEN/1-5 
(16.5.03) 
Zambia G/LIC/N/1/ZMB/1-2 (10.2. 04) G/LIC/N/3/ZMB/1-2 (10.2.04)   
Zimbabwe G/LIC/N/1/ZWE/1-2 (21. 9.98) G/LIC/N/3/ZWE/1+Adds.1-2 
(15.2.01)  
TOTAL 
MEMBERS =123 6 [91]6 [85]6 [26]6 
 
__________ 
  
                                                     
 
6 The European Communities and its member States counted as one Member.