. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/CHN/20 
10 April 2007 
 
 (07-1433) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
 
TRANSITIONAL REVIEW MECHANISM 
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION 
OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA  
 
Responses from CHINA to Questions from AUSTRALIA
1  
 
  The following communication, dated 4 April 2007, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the People's Republic of China. 
 
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Replies to Questions from Australia on Automatic Import Licensing Procedures
 
 
 
1. Can China advise when it will notify the or ganizations, including those organizations 
delegated such authority by the national authorities,  that are responsible for authorizing or approving 
imports of iron ore, whether through grant of licence or other approval?  
 The automatic import licensing is implemented in accordance with the provision of the 
Measures of Administration of Automatic Import Licensing for Goods  (referred to as “ the Measures” ). 
The relevant government organizati ons responsible for issuing the licence are listed in Annex 2 of the 
Measures .  The Measures  sets no approval requirement for enterprises applying for automatic import 
licence.   
2. Can China advise when it will notify the procedures and criteria for obtaining import licences 
or other approvals for iron ore?  
 The procedures for obtaining import licences are contained in the Measures .  The Measures 
sets no qualification criteria for enterprises applying for automatic import licence.  
3. Is China able to advise when the 2005 QR notification will be available? 
 It is currently available in the Market Access committee.  
 
4. Is China able to advise when the 2006 QR notification will be available? 
 The 2006 QR notification will be prepared on the basis of the 2005 QR notification.  China is 
about to notify a supplement document.  
                                                     
 
1 See document G/LIC/Q/CHN/19. G/LIC/Q/CHN/20 
Page 2  
 
  5. Can China advise whether temporary prohibitions and quantitative restrictions have been 
used for products subject to automatic import licensing? If so, can China advise which products 
subject to automatic import licensing were affected  and why the temporary prohibition or quantitative 
restrictions were put in place? 
 Regarding the MOFCOM and GCA Decree 26, the temporary measures taken to cease 
automatic import licensing refer to the measures carried out by the government to implement the 
decision by international organization, such as UN solution, or SPS emergency measures, such as mad 
cow disease.  
 
6. Can China advise the purpose of requiring reasons for an automatic licence’s lack of use and 
advise if there are any consequences if a licence hold er does not use their automatic import licence? 
 It serves the purposes of both data collecting and correcting and fighting against criminal 
conduct, such as the forgery of automatic import licence for the bulk import.  The licence holder 
should return the licence to the relevant government  agencies responsible for issuing the licence when 
it is not used and this licence will be cancelled.  
 
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