RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/S/W/60 
S/CSC/W/51 26 January 2007 
 
 
(07-0368) 
Council for Trade in Services Special Session  Committee on Specific Commitments Original:   English 
 
   
COMMUNICATION FROM ALBANIA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, CHILE, COLOMBIA, 
CROATIA, THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, HONG KONG CHINA, JAPAN, MEXICO, 
NORWAY, PERU, THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN PENGHU, 
KINMEN AND MATSU, TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES  
 
Understanding on the scope of coverage of  CPC 84 - Computer and Related Services
 
  
 The following communication, dated 24 January  2007, from the delegations of Albania, 
Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, the European Communities, Hong Kong China, Japan, 
Mexico, Norway, Peru, the Separate Customs Te rritory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, 
Turkey and the United States is being circulated to the Members of the Council for Trade in Services 
and of the Committee on Specific Commitments. 
_______________ 
 
 
1. In order to increase the clarity of commitm ents under CPC84 and f acilitate negotiations on 
computer and related services, including domestic consu ltations on offers that c ould be made in this 
sector, we wish to convey our common understanding on the scope of Central Product Classification Division 84 ("CPC 84") on computer and related services.  
2. In recent years, the computer and related services sector has experienced enormous growth 
and has become one of the central driving forces in the development of a knowledge-based economy. 
Co-sponsors of the Plurilateral Request on computer  and related services, in order to promote 
effective liberalisation in this key sector, urged requested Members to schedule commitments at the 
highest level possible, i.e., at that of CPC 84. Full commitmen ts for the sector as a whole will ensure 
the openness of this sector to the benefit of all Members making such commitments, to secure that 
developments in this area remain robust and dynamic.    
3. The attached Understanding presents our consider ation on the scope of CPC84, computer and 
related services. Discussed and finalised on the basis of an earlier proposal by the European 
Communities and their Member States,
1 the Understanding provides an accurate and reader-friendly 
clarification of the scope of coverage of CPC 84 that may increase the level of comfort of WTO 
Members when deciding to complete their commitments in this sector.  
4. We underline that Members remain free to deci de whether to schedule the Understanding as 
part of their services offer for computer and relate d services, should they consider that this would 
increase their level of comfort and the clarity of their commitments. Nevertheless, we do not request them to do so.  
                                                     
 
1  See Document TN/S/W/6/S/CSC/W/35 of 24 October 2002. TN/S/W/60 
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  5. It is noted that Members participated in discu ssions without prejudice to the position of their 
respective governments on the use of the Central Product Classification or the question of whether and how they intend to liberalise trade in com puter and related services in the Doha Development 
Round.   TN/S/W/60 
 S/CSC/W/51 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
ANNEX 
 
Understanding on the scope of coverage of  CPC 84 - Computer and Related Services  
 
 1. CPC 84 covers all computer and related services.   
2. Technological developments have led to the increased offering of these services as a bundle 
or package of related services that can include some or all of the basic functions listed in 
paragraph 3. For example, services such as web or domain hosting, data mining services and 
grid computing each consist of a combination of basic computer services functions. 
3.  Computer and related services, regardless of whether they are delivered via a network, 
including the Internet, include all services th at provide any of the following or any 
combination thereof:  
• consulting, adaptation, strategy, analysis, planning, specification, design, 
development, installation, implementation, integration, testing, debugging, updating, 
support, technical assistance, or management of or for computers or computer systems;  
 
• consulting, strategy, analysis, planning, specification, design, development, 
installation, implementation, integration,  testing, debugging, updating, adaptation, 
maintenance, support, technical assistance, management or use of or for software
2;  
 
• data processing, data storage, data hosting or database services;  
 
• maintenance and repair services for offi ce machinery and equipment, including 
computers and 
 
• training services for staff of clients, related to software, computers or computer 
systems, and not elsewhere classified.   
 
4.  In many cases, computer and related services enable the provision of other services3  by both 
electronic and other means.  However, in such cases, there is an important distinction between 
the computer and related service ( e.g., web-hosting or applicati on hosting) and the other 
service3 enabled by the computer and related service . The other service, regardless of whether 
it is enabled by a computer and related service, is not covered by CPC 84.  
                                                      
2  The term “software” may be defined as the sets of instructions required to make computers work and 
communicate. A number of different programmes may be developed for specific applications (application 
software), and the customer may have a choice of us ing ready-made programmes off the shelf (packaged 
software), developing specific programmes for partic ular requirements (customized software) or using a 
combination of the two. 
3  E.g.,W/120.1.A.b. (accounting, auditing and bo okkeeping services), W/120.1.A.d. (architectural 
services), W/120.1.A.h. (medical and dental services), W/120.2.D (audiovisual services), W/120.5. (educational 
services). TN/S/W/60 
S/CSC/W/51 Page 4 
 
 
  ANNEX TO THE UNDERSTANDING ON THE SCOPE OF COVERAGE OF CPC 84   
COMPUTER AND RELATED SERVICES  
 
CPC DIVISION 84 - COMPUTER AND RELATED SERVICES
 
 
 841 Consultancy services related to the installation of computer hardware 
8410 84100 Consultancy services related to the installation of computer hardware
 
 Assistance services to the clients in the in stallation of computer hardware (i.e. physical 
equipment) and computer networks. 
842 Software implementation services  All services involving consultancy services on, de velopment and implementation of software.  
The term "software" may be defined as the sets of instructions required to make computers 
work and communicate.  A number of different  programmes may be developed for specific 
applications (application software), and the cu stomer may have a choice of using ready-made 
programmes off the shelf (packaged software), developing specific programmes for particular 
requirements (customized software) or using a combination of the two. 
8421 84210 Systems and software consulting services
 
 Services of a general nature prior to th e development of data processing systems and 
applications.  It might be management services, project planning services, etc. 
8422 84220 Systems analysis services  
 Analysis services include analysis of the client s' needs, defining functional specification, and 
setting up the team.  Also involved are proj ect management, technical coordination and 
integration and definition of the systems architecture. 
8423 84230 Systems design services  
 Design services include technical solutions, with respect to methodology, quality-assurance, 
choice of equipment software packages or new technologies, etc. 
8424 84240 Programming services  
 Programming services include the implem entation phase, i.e. writing and debugging 
programmes, conducting tests,  and editing documentation. 
8425 84250 Systems maintenance services  
 Maintenance services include consulting and technical assistance services of software 
products in use, rewriting or changing existing programmes or systems, and maintaining up-to-date software documentation and manuals.  Also included are specialist work, e.g. 
conversions.  TN/S/W/60 
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  843 Data processing services 
8431 84310 Input preparation services  
 Data recording services such as key punching, optical scanning or other methods for data 
entry. 
8432 84320 Data-processing and tabulation services  
 Services such as data processing and tabulation services, computer calculating services, and 
rental services of computer time. 
8433 84330 Time-sharing services  
 This seems to be the same type of services as 84320.  Computer time only is bought; if it is 
bought from the customer's premises, telecommunications services are also bought.  Data 
processing or tabulation services may also be b ought from a service bureau.  In both cases the 
services might be time sharing processed.  Thus, there is no clear distinction between 84320 and 84330. 
8439 84390 Other data processing services
 
 Services which manage the full operations of a customer's facilities under contract:  
computer-room environmental quality control services; management services of in-place 
computer equipment combinations; and management services of computer work flows and distributions. 
844 Database services 8440 84400 Database services
 
 All services provided from primarily structured databases through a communication network. 
 Exclusions :  Data and message transmission services (e.g. network operation services, 
value-added network services) are classified in class 7523 (Data and message transmission 
services). 
 Documentation services consisting in information retrieval from databases are classified in 
subclass 96311 (Library services). 
845 Maintenance and repair services of office machinery and equipment including computers 
8450 84500 Maintenance and repair services of office machinery and equipment including 
 computers  
 Repair and maintenance services of office m achinery, computers and related equipment. 
849 Other computer services 
8491 84910 Data preparation services  
 Data preparation services for clients not involving data processing services. TN/S/W/60 
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  8499 84990 Other computer services n.e.c
. 
 Other computer related services, not elsewhere classified, e.g. training services for staff of 
clients, and other professional computer services. 
 
 
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