WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/242 
5 May 2010 
 (10-2489) 
Committee on Market Access  
  
 
 
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE 
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
 
 
1. The Committee met on 29 April 2010 and examined the following issues: 
 2. The Committee approved the draft periodic repor t to the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) 
(G/MA/SPEC/44) which provided an  overview of the issues discussed at the meeting as well as 
factual information on the waiver extension which had been requested from Argentina.  The waiver 
request (G/L/918) was approved and forwarded to the CTG along with the draft decision 
(G/C/W/632) granting the extension.  3. On the introduction of HS96 changes to schedules of concessions, the Committee took note of 
document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.44 containing informa tion on submissions made  pursuant to the 
GATT 1991 procedures to introduce HS changes to schedules of concessions.  It also t ook note of the 
report by the Chairman on the multilateral review  held to examine the schedules of 64 Members 
pursuant to the decision on procedur es leading to the verification a nd certification of HS96 changes 
relating to the schedules of 64 Members (WT/L/756).  
 4. On the introduction of HS2002 changes to schedul es of concessions using the CTS database 
(WT/L/605), the Committee took note of the Se cretariat report on the status of work.  
 5. The Committee reviewed the situation in relati on to the exercise to introduce HS2007 changes 
to schedules of concessions using the CTS database  pursuant to WT/L/673.  The Committee agreed to 
maintain the suspension currently in place in respect of this exercise and to review the situation at a 
subsequent meeting.   
 
6. A representative of the WCO made a presenta tion on the future HS2012 changes which were 
circulated in document G/MA/W/100.   7. With reference to the modalities and operati on of the Integrated Data Base (IDB), the 
Committee examined the status of IDB submissions on the basis of the document 
G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.31.  The Committee also took note of the report by the Secretariat on the 
implementation of the "Framework to enhan ce IDB notifications compliance" (G/MA/239).  
 8. The Committee considered the new formats for the CTS database relating to tariff 
commitments and to specific agricultural commitm ents in the HS2002 nomenclature (JOB/MA/13).  
In light of some comments, the Committee agreed to revert to this document at a future meeting.  
 9. The Committee took note of the report by the S ecretariat on the dissemination of the IDB and 
the CTS database (G/MA/238 and Add.1).    G/MA/242 
Page 2  
 
  10. The Committee took note of the report by the Chai rman on the consultations held in relation 
to the Decision on Notification Procedures for Quan titative Restrictions (G/L/59) and on the outcome 
of action taken in respect of the Decision on Reverse Notification of Non-Tariff Measures (G/L/60).    11. The Committee took note of the information provid ed by Canada on its unilateral elimination 
of certain mfn applied tariffs (G/MA/W/101). 
 12. The Committee elected Mr. Daniel Owoko (Kenya) as Chairman for 2010. 
 13. The Committee took note that its next meeting was scheduled for 12 October 2010.  
 
     
 
       
   G/MA/242
 Page 3ANNEX 
 
FACTUAL INFORMATION RELATING TO A WAIVER REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF  
INTRODUCING HS 96 CHANGES TO A SCHEDULE OF CONCESSIONS 
 
Member Date of 
original 
waiver Date of submission of 
HS documentation N° of 
extensions 
and dates N° of Members 
with which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been initiated N° of Members with 
which 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations have 
been concluded 
 Status of 
outstanding 
Article XXVIII 
negotiations Outlook for 
concluding the 
process Request for a waiver 
and draft decision 
1. Argentina 13.12.1995  G/SECRET/HS96/30  
(16.10.1996)  
G/SECRET/HS96/30/
Corr.1  (16.05.2000)
 
 
 Nineteen: 
18.07.1996 24.04.1997 
22.10.1997 
24.04.1998 14.10.1998 
15.06.1999 
04.11.1999 03.05.2000 
08.12.2000 
08.05.2001 13.05.2002 
15.10.2003 
24.07.2003 20.10.2004 27.07.2005 
28.07.2006 
27.07.2007 31.07.2008 
27.05.2009 
 Four Three Information is still 
being exchanged with the EC with 
regard to a series of 
tariff headings.
 An extension is requested in order to complete the ongoing 
process with the EC. 
 Requested one year.  
G/L/918 G/C/W/632 
 
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