WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/MA/W/46/Add.15 
9 November 2005 
 
 (05-5252) 
Negotiating Group on Market Access  
  
 
NON-TARIFF BARRIER NOTIFICATIONS 
 
Addendum
 
  
Page
 
 
I. HONG KONG, CHINA............................................................................................................2  
 TN/MA/W/46/Add.15 
Page 2 
I. HONG KONG, CHINA1 
Maintainin g 
participant Products 
affected by the 
barrier Nature of the barrier Trade effects of the barrier Inventory 
category Relevant WTO 
provision Treatment of the barrier 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
 All products Multi-layered distribution 
system, with cumbersome regulations.   Exports impeded by the 
complicated distribution 
system and the high 
compliance cost of the 
cumbersome regulations. Distribution 
constraints.  (Part VII:C) GATS Article VI Bilateral - To simplify 
the distribution system 
and relax related 
regulations. 
 Garments Varying product 
classifications. Exports impeded by the extra 
time in preparing and 
processing trade documents. Customs 
classification 
(Part II:C) GATT Article 
VIII Bilateral - To minimise 
changes in product 
classification. 
 All products Some importing Members 
require that trade documents 
(such as commercial invoice, consular invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, letter of 
credit) be legalised at 
designated consulates. Exports impeded by the 
legalisation requirement and 
the associated legalisation fees which are usually relatively high, especially for consignments of small value. Consular 
formalities and 
documentation 
(Part II:D) GATT Article 
VIII Category (b) - To pursue 
in Negotiating Group on 
Trade Facilitation. 
 Food products 
(e.g. milk) Different food hygienic and 
labelling requirements among 
Members.  Exports impeded by the extra 
compliance cost. General (SPS) 
(Part IV:A) SPS Agreement Category (d) - To 
harmonise or standardise 
food hygienic and 
labelling requirements 
among Members as far as possible (e.g. by adopting international 
standards). 
                                                      
1 Information in the “Inventory Category” and “Relevant WTO Provision” columns is only indicative in nature   
  TN/MA/W/46/Add.15
 Page 3Maintainin g 
participant Products 
affected by the 
barrier Nature of the barrier Trade effects of the barrier Inventory 
category Relevant WTO 
provision Treatment of the barrier 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
 Products 
subject to 
different 
standards in 
different Members (e.g. cosmetic 
products) 
 The adoption of arbitrary 
requirements or non-
international standards by 
some Members has resulted in 
different requirements/ standards and technical regulations among Members.  This raises the compliance cost 
for traders exporting products 
to these Members.  One example is the prohibition of marketing of cosmetic products (like shampoo, soap, lotion and cream) for non-trade or non-health reasons. 
 Exports impeded by the extra 
compliance cost. Technical 
regulations and 
standards     (Part III:B) TBT Agreement Category (d) - To 
harmonise or standardise 
technical requirements 
among Members as far 
as possible (e.g. by adopting international 
standards). 
 Products 
subject to 
different testing and conformity arrangements in different Members Owing to the adoption of 
different conformity 
assessment rules among Members, products certified in an exporting Member may not 
be deemed to be certified in the 
importing Member or in 
Members to which the 
products are re-exported. Exports impeded by the extra 
compliance cost. Testing and 
certification 
arrangements 
(Part III:C) TBT Agreement Category (d) - To 
accelerate mutual 
recognition of conformity assessment bodies, so that products certified by relevant authority of a Member 
will be accepted by the 
importing Members 
 
__________