WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/149/Add.1 
1 February 2007 
 (07-0439) 
Committee on Trade and Development Original:   English 
  
 
DUTY-FREE, QUOTA-FREE MARKET ACCESS  
FOR THE LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
 
Communication from the United States 
 
 
Addendum  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 18 January 2 007, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States. 
 
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 
 
TRADE POLICY STAFF COMMITTEE:  SEEKING COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC  
ON THE 2005 WTO MINISTERIAL DECISION ON DUTY-FREE, QUOTA-FREE  
MARKET ACCESS FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
 
 This document represents the initiation of one of  the key steps in the domestic consultative 
process associated with the United States' impl ementation of the Hong Kong decision to provide 
duty-free quota-free access to LDC members,  as described in the US submission 
(WT/COMTD/W/149).  Members should be aware that th ey, or their representatives, have the right to 
submit information in response to the announcemen t.  The process for submitting comments is 
outlined in the notice below. 
  
I. SUMMARY 
1. The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting the public to submit written 
comments on considerations relating to the Decisi on that Members adopted at the Sixth Ministerial 
Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO ) in December 2005 on duty-free, quota-free 
(DFQF) market access for the least-developed c ountries (LDCs).  The TPSC is seeking comments 
from the public on the full range of issues that may affect implementation of this Decision. 
II. DATES 
2. Comments are due by 15 March 2007. 
III. ADDRESSES 
3. Submissions by electronic mail : FR0704@USTR.EOP.GOV.  Submissions by facsimile :  
Ms. Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at:  +1 (202) 395-6143.  The WT/COMTD/W/149/Add.1 
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  public is strongly encouraged to submit documents electronically rather than by facsimile.  (See 
requirements for submissions below.) 
IV. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
4. General inquiries should be made to the USTR  Office of WTO and Multilateral Affairs at:  
+1 (202) 395-6843;  calls on individual subjects will be transferred as appropriate.  Procedural 
inquiries concerning the public comment process shoul d be directed to Ms. Gloria Blue, Executive 
Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Offi ce of the US Trade Representative (USTR), 
+1 (202) 395-3475.  Further information on the WTO, including the declarations, decisions referred to 
in this notice, can be obtained via the internet at the WTO website, www.wto.org
, and/or the USTR 
website, www.ustr.gov .  The 2005 President's Annual Report on the Trade Agreements Program, 
which is available on the USTR website, contains  extensive information on the WTO, the Sixth WTO 
Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China, and the status of work in the WTO. 
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
 
V. DUTY-FREE QUOTA-FREE MARKET ACCESS 
5. The TPSC calls attention to the decision adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the 
WTO in December 2005 on duty-free, quota-free (DFQ F) market access for LDCs.  The DFQF 
decision is contained in Annex F of the Mini sterial Declaration, which can be found at www.wto.org  
with the document symbol "WT/MIN(05)/DEC".  Ministers agreed that WTO Members would implement the DFQF initiative coincident with the implementation of the results of the negotiations 
under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).  On a voluntary basis, WTO Members may also 
implement sooner.   
6. Implementation of the DFQF by relevant WTO Members is subject to review by Members 
through the WTO Committee on Trade and Developmen t (CTD).  On May 15, 2006, the United States 
submitted a paper to the CTD, "Duty-Free, Quot a-Free Market Access for the Least-Developed 
Countries:  Communication from the United States".  This paper can be found at www.wto.org
 with 
the document symbol "WT/COMTD/W/149".  The pa per summarizes the US legal and consultative 
process for implementing the DFQF decision, and outlines certain factors and related obligations 
affecting implementation.  The TPSC recognizes that some factor s related to implementation of 
DFQF can only be determined once certain results are obtained in the overall DDA negotiations.  At this time, however, as part of consultative pro cess, the TPSC is seeking comments from the public 
addressing the range of issues that may affect implementation in order to inform the planning process.  
The TPSC may seek further public comments on specific  issues related to implementation of DFQF at 
a later time. 
7. The US International Trade Commission has pr ovided to the TPSC the comments received 
from the public on agricultural and non-agricultural products as part of its investigation No. 332-440, 
Probable Economic Effects on Reduction or Elimina tion of US Tariffs, 9 August 2002 (Confidential 
Report).  Hence, these comments need not be resubmitted.   
VI. WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS 
8. Comments should state clearly the issue identified and should contain detailed information 
explaining why it is an issue and, to the extent po ssible, the means to address the issue.  The provision 
of supplemental technical information is optional.   This information should be provided in an  WT/COMTD/W/149/Add.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  attachment containing a spreadsheet or table in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, Excel, Quatro Pro or 
MS Access. 
9. Persons submitting comments may either send one copy by fax to Ms. Gloria Blue, Executive 
Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at:  +1 (202) 395-6143 or transmit a copy electronically to FR0704@USTR.EOP.GOV, with "Duty-Free, Quota-Free'' in the subject line.  For documents sent by 
fax, USTR requests that the submitter provide a confirmation copy electronically.  The public is 
strongly encouraged to submit documents electronically  rather than by facsimile.  USTR encourages 
the use of Adobe PDF format to submit attachments to an electronic mail.  Interested persons who 
make submissions by electronic mail should not pr ovide separate cover letters;  information that 
might appear in a cover letter should be included in the submission itself.  Similarly, to the extent 
possible, any attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as the submission 
itself, and not as separate files. 
10. Comments should be submitted electronica lly no later than 15 March 2007. 
11. Business confidential information will be subject to the requirements of 15 CFR 2003.6.  Any 
business confidential material must be clearly ma rked as such and must be accompanied by a 
non-confidential summary thereof.  A justificati on as to why the information contained in the 
submission should be treated confidentially should also  be contained in the submission.  In addition, 
any submissions containing business confidential in formation must clearly be marked "Business 
Confidential" at the top and bottom of the cove r page (or letter) and each succeeding page of the 
submission.   The version that does not contai n business confidential information should also be 
clearly marked at the top and bottom of each page, "Public Version" or "Non-Confidential". 
12. Written comments submitted in connection with th is request, except for information granted 
"business confidential" status pursuant to 15 CFR 20 03.6 will be available for public inspection in the 
USTR Reading Room, Office of the United States Trad e Representative.  An appointment to review 
the file can be made by calling:  +1 (202) 395-6186.  The Reading Room is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Monday through Friday. 
 
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