. /.  RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/C/M/87 
13 February 2007 
 
 (07-0626) 
Council for Trade in Goods  
  
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
30 JANUARY 2007 
 
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Yonov Agah (Nigeria
) 
 
 
 The meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods was convened by airgram WTO/AIR/2953 and the proposed agenda for the meeting was c ontained in document G/C/W/572.  The meeting 
proceeded on the basis of the following agenda.  
 
Table of Contents
 
 
 
I. EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ENLARG EMENT:  PROCEDURES UNDER 
ARTICLE XXVIII:3 OF GATT 1994 (G/L/695/ADD.4) ......................................................1  
II. OTHER BUSINESS................................................................................................................. .2 
 
 
I. EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ENLARGEMENT:  PROCEDURES UNDER 
ARTICLE XXVIII:3 OF GATT 1994 (G/L/695/ADD.4) 
1.1 The Chairman  drew Members' attention to document G/L/695/Add.4 which concerned the 
accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004 of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, 
Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic  and Slovenia.  In this communication, the EC 
indicated that it would not assert that Members who had submitted a claim pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of GATT 1994 were precluded fro m withdrawing substantially equivalent 
concessions under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT 1994 becau se this withdrawal occurred later than six 
months after the EC's withdrawal of concessions, provided that the claiming WTO Member withdrew 
concessions no later than 39 months after the EC's modification of concessions.    1.2 Under the provisions of Article XXVIII:3 – and following the most recent extension of the 
deadline as agreed at the July 2006 meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods – Members could 
withdraw substantially equivalent concessions no late r than 33 months after the EC's withdrawal and 
modification of concessions, in other words, no la ter than 1 February 2007.  Furthermore, these 
Members had to provide at least 30 days' notifica tion of their intent to withdraw substantially 
equivalent concessions – in other words, no later than  2 January 2007.  In the light of these impending 
deadlines under Article XXVIII:3, and the ongoi ng negotiations under Article XXIV:6, the EC 
proposed that this deadline be extended a further six months for a total of 39 months following the 
EC's modification of concessions, in other words un til 1 August 2007.  If this extension was agreed, 
Members would have to provide notification of in tention to withdraw substantially equivalent 
concessions by no later than  2 July 2007. G/C/M/87 
Page 2  
 
  1.3 The representative of the European Communities
 confirmed that his delegation was proposing 
an extension of the period for withdrawal under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT in relation to the EU 
enlargement as of 1 May 2004.  This extension of the period would allow WTO Members to withdraw 
substantially equivalent concessions with respect to  the withdrawal and modification of the schedules 
of the EC and its 10 new Member States as of 1 May 2004.  While negotiations had been more or less 
finalised and agreement had been concluded with  11 WTO Members, his delegation still had some 
agreements to conclude as well as the finalization of the tariff for bananas for the 25 EC Members States.  Therefore, the EC was proposing an extens ion of the period in which Members were allowed 
to withdraw concessions.    
1.4 The representative of Colombia
 thanked the EC for requesting this extension.  His delegation 
had no difficulty agreeing to the extension of this new period for the conclusion of the negotiations.  
Nevertheless, it wished to place on record that 33 m onths, i.e. 3 years, of negotiations had passed and 
that it considered this was sufficient time to be ab le to conclude all the ne gotiations.  However, his 
delegation took note of the EC's st atement that it still had some outs tanding negotiations to conclude.  
His delegation hoped that this new 6 month extension would be sufficient for the EC to be able to 
conclude negotiations with those countries with  whom they still had negotiations pending.   
 1.5 The Chairman
 proposed that the Council take note of  the statements made and agree on the 
extension of the deadline as set out in the Eu ropean Communities document G/L/695/Add.4.   
 
1.6 The Council so agreed . 
 
II. OTHER BUSINESS 
2.1 The Chairman  informed Members that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on 
Monday, 19 March 2007.  The agenda for this meeting would close on Friday, 9 March 2007. 
 
2.2 The meeting was adjourned. 
 
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