G/MA/W/144  
 
17 October 2019  
(19-6788) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Market Access   
 
FEEDBACK SESSION ON THE WTO'S PUBLICATIONS A ND ONLINE TOOLS  
TO DISSEMINATE  TARIFF AND IMPORT DA TA 
SUMMARY BY THE SECRE TARIAT1 
1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  On 28  May 2019, the Committee on Market Access (the Committee) adopted a new Decision 
for the notification of import and tariff data as part of the Modalities and Operation of the Integrated 
Database (the IDB Decision)2, which replace d a similar Decision from 1997 .3 
1.2.  Pursuant to paragraph 15 of the newly adopted IDB Decision, the Committee held an informal 
dedicated session on 17  July 2019 to discuss  Members' feedback  on, and experience of, the 
publications and online tools developed over the years by the Secretariat to disseminate tariff and 
import data that was collected thro ugh the IDB and C onsolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS)  databases.  
1.3.  The meeting began with presentations by the Secretariat on six  different dissemination tools 
(see Annex) and then turned to a discussion with Members of the four  questions that had been 
raised in the convening e -mail. Twelve  delegations4 took the floor and provided feedback on one or 
more of the questions that the Chairperson had addressed to them . 
2  SUMMARY OF MEMBERS' FEEDBACK  
2.1.  Members' feedback ranged from comments of a general nature to very specific suggestions for 
improv ing specific tools . The main points raised  under each question  may be summarized as follows . 
a) Which are the WTO publications and online tools that you use to access tariff and import 
data? Which are their most useful feat ures?  
2.2.  Members  commented that they frequently use d and highly value d the tariff and import data 
that was processed and compiled by the WTO  Secretariat. Appropriate access to reliable tariff and 
import data was considered to be a key component of the transpa rency function of the WTO. 
However, Members appear ed to underutilize the se tools as it appeared that  some of them were 
unknown . 
2.3.  While some Members preferred to use the WTO 's tools to access tariff data, others relied 
instead on other sources and databases to retrieve import  data. More specifically, s ome Members 
reported  that they used WTO tools primarily to download raw data in bulk , mainly through the Tariff 
Analysis Online (TAO ), so that it could  subsequently be  processed by  their own systems . Other 
Members stated that they did rely on the WTO online tools to query and analyse trade data. 
2.4.  Members expressed their appreciation for  the summary information  contained  in the World 
Tariff Profiles publication, which they considered to be a quick and reliable source of information, in 
particular for briefing senior officials.  
                                                
1 This document is without prejudice to  Members' rights and obligation s under the WTO Agreement.  
2 G/MA/367.  
3 The Decision of the General Council of 18  July 1997 (WT/L/225).  
4 Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Costa Rica; European Union; Hong Kong, China; Republic of Korea; 
Russian Federation; Sri Lanka; Turkey and the United States.  G/MA/W/144  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2.5.  Members recognized that  TAO was the most powerful and comprehensive WTO tool for tariff 
and import data and was frequently used by several agencies . In the opinion  of these Members , the 
presentation of different data elements (e.g. bound  tariffs , applied  tariffs , and import data) at the 
8-digit level , under the same umbrella , was one of the principal strengths  of this tool . 
2.6.  Similarly, Members believed that the Regional Trade Agreements and P referential Trade 
Agreements  databases were useful tools, in particular for extracting information used for briefing 
senior officials . Members found it especially useful to have direct access to other information through 
the same platform ( for example,  the text of the free trade agreement s). 
2.7.  Regarding the WTO DATA Portal, s everal Members noted that, since this tool  was relatively 
new, they were still exploring its functionalities and learning how to use it. They  believed that this 
could be  a very useful tool in terms of cross-cutting information on time  series.  
b) Are the publications and online tools used by the WTO Secretariat to disseminate IDB and 
CTS data adequate to meet your needs? If not, which needs are not being met?  
2.8.  Some Members noted  that they were not aware of many of the tools  that were discussed at 
the meeting. Geneva -based  delegates had found out about them only through the C ommittee's  
recent discussions.  
c) What ar e, in your opinion, the main areas that need to be improved? Should the Secretariat 
develop new functionalities? If so, which  ones? 
2.9.  The m ain difficulties reported by Member s included  that the WTO tools on tariff and import 
data were difficult to operate , were not user -friendly , and often lack ed functionalities that were 
included in other WTO tools. TAO was referred to by a number of Members  as an example of an 
outdated interface that could  frustrate its users . Members suggested that the  interface  be improve d 
to make it clearer and easier to use . Some Members pointed to ITC's MacMap and to the UN 
COMTRADE as examples of tools that were easier to use  than TAO . 
2.10.   Some Members noted that, s ince the information was scattered across several different online 
tools, the user was often obliged to switch from one tool to another in order to access a slightly 
different part of the same type of information ( for example, to compare bound  tariff, applied tariff, 
and preferential tariff data).  
2.11.   Members found i t difficu lt to extract data from some of the applications  and in particular  from 
TAO, which , in their view , require d too many clicks when navigating its content . ITC's MacMap and 
UN COMTRADE were again mentioned  as tools that allowed for an easier download ing of  data. 
2.12.   Members complained that t he format used for export ing data from WTO tools was limited to 
Microsoft applications, some of which were difficult to operate (for example, MS Access). They also 
considered that the coding used in the files should be reviewed . For example, s ome Members might 
prefer  to use the full name s of Member s instead of using only their numerical code.  Some Members 
also suggested that , when the user download ed a file, they should have the option of seeing the 
relevant information presented together  in the same sheet,  as opposed to receiving it as separate 
sheets in one Excel file . In their view, t he user should not be expected to compile the different types 
of information  by themselves . 
2.13.   Some Members  suggested that it wo uld be helpful to improve the current manuals and to 
provide training on how to use the existing WTO tools.  
2.14.   In terms of new functionalities , Members recommended the following actions : 
• To develop new  smartphone applications , or the possibility to open and use  current  
applications on mobile devices ; 
 
• To simplify the  comparison between  applied and bound tariffs by taking into account 
HS transposition changes ; 
 G/MA/W/144  
 
- 3 - 
 
  • To develop new tools to assist Members in verifying the  HS transpositions and/or to 
appreciate the impact of specific HS changes ; 
 
• To add access to value added statistics and information on preferential rules of origin ; 
 
• To improve the way in which the information concerning bound TRQs was presented in the 
tools; 
 
• To ensure that the tools could be accessed  without requiring a username and password, 
unless there was a very good reason for requiring them ( for example, access to restricted 
data).  
 
d) Are the WTO publications and online tools properly organized and easily accessible? If not, 
what could be done by the Secretariat to improve the situation?  
2.15.   Some Members expressed their frustration over the fragmentation of different tools over 
different websites . They suggested that the different functionalities should be merged into a single 
tool or , at the very least , that a portal should be developed exhaustively to list and direct Members 
to all the relevant WTO websites  incorporating online tools . 
_______________  
 
 
  G/MA/W/144  
 
- 4 - 
 
  ANNEX  
WTO DISSEMINATION TO OLS 
1. World Tariff Profiles : A publication jointly developed by the WTO  Secretariat, the 
International Trade Centre (ITC) , and UNCTAD, which provides comprehensive summary 
information on the tariffs and non -tariff measures imposed by over 170  countries and 
customs territories. Tariff data is presented  in comparative tables and in one -page profiles 
for each economy. The 2019  edition also includes a summary table containing import and 
export profile s for the countries included in the report.  
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/tariff_profiles_e.htm  
2. The Tariff Analysis Online (TAO) : An advanced online system that allows users to extract 
detailed information for specific products, including bound and applied tariffs at the national 
tariff line level (HS -8 digit, or more), as well as import data. The TAO has analytical reports 
and allows f iltering criteria for the purposes of analysis . Authorized users can access all of 
the approved data, but only Members and the Secretariat can access provisional data. Public 
access is limited to unrestricted data.  
https://tao.wto.org/  
3. Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTA) Database : An online system based on 
notifications relating to the PTA -Transparency Mechanism. The database contains reference 
information on notified PTAs ; it serves as document  repository ; it includes summary 
statistics of preferential tariffs and imports, including preference utilization.  
http://ptadb.wto.org/  
4. WTO DATA  Portal (WTODATA) : An online system with general statistical indicators 
relating to WTO  issues, including bound and  MFN applied tariffs. The tariff data in this portal 
reproduces the content of the Tariff Download Facility ( http://tdf.wto.org ). 
http://data.wto.org/  
5. Data Maps: A section  of the WTO  webpage that allows users to visualize different data  
elements, including trade and tariff data.  
International Trade and Market Access Data  
6. Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) Database : An online system with information on 
notified RTAs, as well as all other documents on RTAs, including tariff liberalization 
commitments and intra -RTA import data. It also permits users to search and compare 
applied MFN and preferential tariff commitments by product, as well as by topic . 
http://rtais.wto.org  
 
__________