WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/L/816 
2 March 2007 
 (07-0901) 
 Original:   Spanish 
   
INTRODUCTION OF HARMONI ZED SYSTEM 1996 CHANGES 
INTO WTO SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS 
 
Panama – Schedule CXLI
 
 
Request for a Waiver 
 
  The following communication, dated 27 February 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Panama.  
_______________ 
 
  The Government of Panama hereby requests a wa iver of its obligations under Article II of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Tr ade 1994 (GATT 1994) and General Council 
Decision WT/L/652 of 28 July 2006 in order to implement the Harmonized System 1996 (HS96) 
nomenclature and adopt the changes that th is entails for Panama's Schedule CXLI. 
  Attached to this request is factual informa tion concerning the request for a waiver for the 
purpose of introducing the HS96 changes into Pana ma's Schedule of Concessions, for consideration 
by the Committee on Market Access. G/L/816 
Page 2  
 
  REQUEST FOR A WAIVER FOR THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING 
HS96 CHANGES INTO PANAMA'S SCHEDULE OF CONCESSIONS 
 
Factual Information
 
 
 
1. Date of original waiver  
 24 April 1998 
 2. Date of submission of documents  relevant to HS96 implementation
 
 21 February 2002.  Furthermore, on 6 Februa ry 2004, Panama sent the delegation of the 
United States of America copies of its foreign trade statistics for 2002, as requested by this delegation. 
 3. Number of extensions and dates granted
 
 Panama has been granted eleven extens ions, the dates of which are as follows: 
 
WT/L/281 - 14 October 1998 WT/L/303 - 15 June 1999 WT/L/338 - 4 November 1999 WT/L/351 - 3 May 2000 WT/L/379 - 8 December 2000 
WT/L/400 - 8 May 2001 
WT/L/458 - 13 May 2002 WT/L/524 - 24 July 2003 WT/L/570 - 17 May 2004 WT/L/620 - 27 July 2005 
 WT/L/652 - 28 July 2006 
 4. Number of countries with which Artic le XXVIII negotiations have been initiated
 
 None. 
 
(a) Canada - Further to clarification of and corrections to the documents submitted by 
Panama to the Secretariat, on 9 September 2002 Canada gave formal notice that it had 
withdrawn its reservation. 
(b) Australia - Further to clarification of and corrections to the documents submitted by 
Panama to the Secretariat, on 23 August 2003 Australia gave formal notice that it had withdrawn its reservation. 
(c) European Communities and United States - Th ese two delegations are still verifying 
the documents provided by Panama, circul ated in documents G/SECRET/HS96/48 of 
4 April 2001, G/SECRET/HS96/48/Add. 1 and Rev.1 of 18 March 2002 and 
4 June 2002 respectively, and G/SECRET/HS96/48/Rev.1/Corr.2 of 14 August 2003. 
5. Outlook for concluding the process
 
 On 20 November 2006, Panama submitted notes to the US and EU delegations requesting 
their comments on, or confirmation of their acceptan ce of, its documents in order to conclude this 
process by the deadline established by the Secretaria t.  However, and as reported to the Secretariat,  G/L/816 
 Page 3 
 
 
  these delegations have requested that the documen tation provided by Panama be reviewed by the 
Secretariat prior to the submission of their comments.   Panama is currently waiting for the Secretariat to complete the review of its documents in 
order to formally conclude the implem entation of HS96 nomenclature changes. 
 
 In the light of the above consid erations and taking into consider ation the fact that Panama will 
have to conclude these consultations or po ssibly conduct negotiations  under Article XXVIII, 
particularly in view of the general reservations ma de by other Members, we expect that a period of 
12 months as from the date of application of the waiver will be needed to complete the 
implementation of these amendments. 
 
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