. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/240 
13 October 2009 
 (09-4984) 
Committee on Market Access  
 
 
 
 
PERIODIC REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE 
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS   
  
1. The Committee met on 2 October 2009 a nd examined the following issues: 
 2. The Committee took note of the periodic report (G/MA/SPEC/42) and took note that as there 
were no requests for HS96 waiver extensions no fact ual information on this issue had been provided in 
the report.  
 
3. The Committee approved the extension of the HS2002 waiver (G/C/W/624). 
 4. The Committee approved the extension of the HS2007 waiver (G/C/W/625). 
 5. The Committee took note of the status of submissions of HS96 documentation as set out in 
document G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.43.  In respect of the "Decision on procedures leading to the verification 
and certification of HS96 changes to the schedules of 64 Members" (WT/L/756), the Committee was 
informed that the Secretariat had posted the HS96 files of these Members on the website and that 
notice of this posting was circulated in docum ent G/SECRET/HS96/CTS/1 dated 3 August 2009.  In 
accordance with the procedures, the Committee w ould meet six months from the date of the 
notification to conduct a multilateral review of the files.   
 6. The Secretariat reported on the exercise to introduce HS2002 changes to schedules of 
concessions  using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database.  In its report, the Secretariat 
pointed out that the number of certified files would be much higher if more Members could signal approval of their own files.  The Secretariat also indicated that one of the reasons which led to 
Members' files staying on the agenda of two or more dedicated sessions was the lack of follow-up 
activity by concerned delegations subsequent to a multila teral review of their files.  In order to address 
this situation, the Secretariat intended to facilita te exchanges between dele gations by reminding them 
of any action required on their part such as responding  to queries or elaborating specific concerns.   
 
7. The Secretariat reported on the exercise to introduce HS2007 changes to schedules of 
concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (C TS) database. At its meeting of 2 October, the 
Committee took note that the DDA schedules to be submitted in the HS2002 nomenclature would also 
need to be transposed into the HS2007 nomenclat ure thereby rendering to some extent the current 
exercise redundant. Given this situation, the Co mmittee decided to put on hold the current HS2007 
transposition exercise and to review the situation at its ne xt meeting in 2010  It al so agreed to revert to 
document JOB(09)/24 and Add.1 as well as the deadline for those Members preparing their own schedules when it decided to move ahead with the HS2007 transposition exercise. 
 8. 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.30. The Secretariat reported on  inter alia the status of IDB dissemination, use of 
IDB information,  IDB technical assistance and th e status of software development (IDB reporting G/MA/240 
Page 2  
 
  tools and internet analysis facility).  In this re gard, the Committee took note that following its decision 
adopted on 13 July (G/MA/238) to allow public access to the IDB and CTS as of January 2010 (with certain access conditions), the Secretariat was wo rking to have a public version of the internet 
analysis facility.  In response to a request, the Secretariat also indicat ed that its future reports would 
contain more information on how the decision contained in G/MA/239 entitled "Framework to 
enhance IDB notifications complia nce" was being implemented.  
 9. On the CTS database, the Committee was inform ed that the Secretariat was working on a 
revision to document JOB(09)/32 in light of th e comments made. The Committee was also informed 
that in the meantime, the Secretariat had incl uded in the new CTS database the information of 
Members with no specific commitments in agricultu re as the comments mainly concerned the format 
of the additional agricultural commitments.   10. On the subject of improving the timeliness and completeness of notifications, the Chairman 
noted that pursuant to what had been agreed in the Committee and in relation to the "Decision on 
Reverse Notification of Non-tariff Measures", he  would soon be sending out a letter informing 
Members that a venue existed for such type of notif ications. He also recalled the decision adopted by 
the Committee contained in document G/MA/239 wh ich was intended to improve the status of 
submissions to the IDB.   On the "Decision on No tification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions", 
the Chairman noted that the Secretariat was still gathering information which had been requested. 
Once this information was ready, he intended to hold consultations.    
 
11. The Committee conducted the transitional review  under Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of 
Accession of the People's Republic of China.   Questions/comments were submitted by the 
European Communities (G/MA/W/97), Japan (G/MA/W/96) and the United States (G/MA/W/98).   Information submitted by China was circulated in  document G/MA/W/99.  The Committee's report to 
the CTG on the review is contained in G/MA/241. 
 12. The Committee considered its draft report (2009) to the CTG (G/MA/SPEC/43). It was agreed 
that an update of this report which took into acc ount the developments at this meeting would be 
circulated to all Members. If no comments were  forthcoming then the updated report would be 
considered adopted
1. 
 
13. The Committee elected  Ms. Juntra Siriuthaikorn as the Vice-Chair for 2009. 
 14. The Committee took note that its next meeti ng would be held in the spring of 2010. 
 
__________ 
                                                     
 
1 Adopted report was circulated as G/L/896.