. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/65* 
9 July 2008 
 (08-3296) 
Committee on Trade and Development Original:   English 
  
GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES 
 
Communication from Brazil
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 8 July 2008,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Brazil. 
 
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QUESTIONS BY BRAZIL  ON THE NOTIFICATION BY NORWAY (WT/COMTD/N/6/ADD.4) 
 
 
On 8 April 2008, Norway notified to the WTO a fu rther revision of its Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP).  The notification was circulated on 10 April 2008 in document WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.4.  The scheme was presented at the Committee on Trade and Development on 5 May 2008.  
 
The provisions contained in the revised GSP from Norway include, among others, the 
extension of preferential treatment  to a number of developing countries similar to that provided to 
Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) based on criteri a such as levels of income, among others.  
 
Considering the possible systemic implicati ons of these provisions, Brazil wishes to seek 
clarification concerning the following points:  Question 1:  Please confirm that the criteria for the extension of duty-free and quota-free market 
access (DFQF-MA) preferential treatment to a number of developing countries include the "List of 
Recipients of Official Development Assistance"  (ODA) from the Development Assistance Committee 
(DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 
 Question 2:  Please indicate any other criteria related to  income levels that were used in the 
selection of developing countries receiving preferentia l treatment similar to that provided to LDCs. 
 
Question 3:  Please explain the reasons for choosing th e DAC list as a criterion for the extension 
of preferential treatment vis-à-vis the stated purpose of the DAC list contained in  the official website 
of the OECD
1  
(http://www.oecd.org/document/55/0,3343, en_2649_34447_3583 2055_1_1_1_1,00.html ). 
 
Question 4:  Please confirm that, according to the current classification contained in the DAC list, 
18 countries are considered as "other low income countries" 
(http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/23/34/37954893.pdf ). 
                                                      
* This document relates to document WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.4. 
1 "The DAC List of ODA Recipients is designed for statistical purposes.  It helps to measure and 
classify aid and other resource flows originating in DAC co untries.  It is not designed as a guide to eligibility for 
aid or other preferential treatment." WT/COMTD/65 
Page 2  
 
   
Question 5:  Considering that the DAC list entered into  force in 2006 and that it is revised every 
three years, please comment on the possible changes affecting the preferential treatment extended by 
Norway concerning countries to be included in or excluded from the DAC list from 2009.  
Question 6:  Please confirm that the exclusion of four countries in the category "other low income 
countries" in the DAC list from the DFQF-MA prefer ential treatment in Norway's GSP was based on 
the United Nations' LDC list, in particular followi ng the "UN population criteria for LDC status", as 
mentioned in footnote 9 in Norway's no tification (document WT/COMTD/N/6/Add.4). 
 
 
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