. /.  RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/MA/SPEC/40 
9 October 2008 
 (08-4802) 
Committee on Market Access  
 
 
 
DRAFT 
 
REPORT (2008) OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS 
 
 
1. Since the last review1, the Committee on Market Access has held two formal meetings 
(16 April 2008 and 16 October 2008), and two informal dedicated sessions of the Committee 
(16 April 2008 and 16 October 2008). The minutes of the formal meetings are contained in documents 
G/MA/M/46 and [G/MA/M/47].  In addition, two pe riodic reports giving an overview of the issues 
discussed in the Committee and providing factual info rmation on the requests for waivers and waiver 
extensions related to the Harmonized System are contained in documents G/MA/198 and [G/MA/...]. 
 2. At its meeting of 16 April, the Committee took note of the nomination of Dr. Mohammad Saeed (Pakistan) as Chairman of th e Committee for the current year and elected him 
by acclamation.  [At its meeting of 16 October, the Committee elected  (...) as the Vice-Chair.]  A. I
NTRODUCTION OF HS96  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
3. At its formal meetings in 2008, the Committee examined the s ituation related to the submission 
of HS96 documentation set out in documents G/MA/T AR/2/Rev.40 and 41.  In respect of the HS96 
transposition, the Comm ittee took note that several Members had not followed the HS96 transposition 
procedures outlined in GATT document L/6905, but that  the Secretariat had automatically undertaken 
the work for them in connection with the HS02 exerci se.  However, the results of this work remained 
uncertified.  It was agreed that the Secretariat  w ould look into this  issue and propose some solutions 
for examination by the Committee.  [At its meetin g of 16 October, the Committee considered this 
issue further.]  
B. I
NTRODUCTION OF HS2002  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
4.  At its meetings in 2008, the Secretaria t reported on the status of work concerning the 
introduction of HS2002 changes to schedules of co ncessions using the CTS database as well as on the 
outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the Committee in which the HS02 files of Members 
were examined.  [At its meeting of 16 October, the Committee considered the extension of the 
HS2002 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/601)]. 
 
C. INTRODUCTION OF HS2007  CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS  
5. In 2008, the Committee took note of the reports  by the Secretariat on the status of work in 
incorporating HS2007 changes to schedules.  [A t its meeting of 16 October, the Committee 
considered the extension of the HS2007 "c ollective" waiver decision (G/C/W/602).] 
 
                                                      
1 G/L/839 (dated 12 November 2007). G/MA/SPEC/40 
Page 2  
 
  D. D
ATABASES  
6. With reference to the modalities and opera tion of the Integrated Data Base (IDB), the 
Committee, at its formal meetings in 2008, examined  the status of IDB submissions on the basis of 
documents G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.27-28.  The Secret ariat also reported on the status of IDB 
dissemination, use of IDB information, IDB technical assistance, status of submissions, and the status 
of software development (IDB reporting tools and internet analysis facility). In addition, the 
Secretariat presented a report on the work undertaken on the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database.    
At its meeting of 16 April, Members were informed  that the IDB and CTS data had been used, for 
inter alia the calculation of AVEs and responding to requests arising from the negotiations and the 
preparation of the Electronic Negotiating Files (ENFs).  
 
E. PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL OF ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF  
 CHINA – CHINA 'S TRANSITIONAL REVIEW MECHANISM  
7.. The review took place at the meeting of 16 October.  Questions and/or comments were 
circulated by the European Communities (G/MA/W/ 95), Japan (G/MA/W/93) and the United States 
(G/MA/W/94). [The Committee completed its review a nd agreed to forward its report in [G/MA/..] to 
the Council for Trade in Goods.]  
F. O
THER ACTIVITIES  
8. The Committee took note of document G/MA/N TM/QR/1/Add.11 which provided an update 
of the situation in respect of the notifications of  quantitative restrictions pursuant to the "Decision on 
notification Procedures for Quantitative Restricti ons" (G/L/59). The Committee also took note of 
document G/MA/NTM/W/3/Rev.1 whic h reflected the status of reverse notifications on non-tariff 
measures made pursuant to the Decision on reverse notification of non-tariff measures (G/L/60).  The 
situation had not changed since 2001. 
9. The Committee took note of the Secretariat document which provided details on the most 
recent information available in the tariff library an d the website addresses where more recent national 
tariffs can be found (G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.12), [as we ll as the Secretariat document entitled "Situation 
of Schedules of WTO Members" (G/MA/W/23/Rev.5).]  
 The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the 
Committee meeting on 16 October 2008. 
 
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