Declaration on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products
Date: 2015-07-28
Institutions: Albania, Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, European Union, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United States
Subjects: World Trade Organisation, information technology, most favoured nation, suspension of customs duties, tariff exemption, telecommunications equipment, trade agreement, trade agreement (EU)




L_2016161EN.01000401.xml










18.6.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 161/4








            DECLARATION ON THE EXPANSION OF TRADE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
         

The following Members of the World Trade Organisation (‘WTO’) which have agreed on the expansion of world trade in information technology products (‘parties’).






 


Albania










 


Australia










 


Canada










 


China










 


Costa Rica










 


European Union










 


Guatemala










 


Hong Kong, China










 


Iceland










 


Israel










 


Japan










 


Korea










 


Malaysia










 


Montenegro










 


New Zealand










 


Norway










 


Philippines










 


Singapore










 


Switzerland (1)











 


Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu










 


Thailand










 


United States




Declare as follows:

1.   
Each party shall bind and eliminate customs duties and other duties and charges of any kind, within the meaning of Article II:1(b) of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, as set forth below, with respect to the following:






(a)


all products classified with Harmonised System (‘HS’) 2007 sub-headings listed in Attachment A to this Declaration; and










(b)


all products specified in Attachment B to this Declaration, whether or not they are included in Attachment A.






Staging









2.


The parties shall apply three year staging in four equal annual reductions of customs duties, beginning in 2016 and concluding in 2019, as standard staging, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, recognising that extended staging of reductions may be necessary in limited circumstances. The reduced rate should in each stage be rounded off to the first decimal. Each party shall incorporate commitments on staging for each product into its Schedule of Concessions to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (‘Schedule of Concessions’).





Implementation









3.


Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, and subject to the completion of domestic procedural requirements, each party shall eliminate all customs duties and other duties and charges of any kind on products listed in the Attachments as follows:






(a)


elimination of customs duties in equal steps, the first such rate reduction effective no later than 1 July 2016, the second such rate reduction no later than 1 July 2017, the third such rate reduction no later than 1 July 2018, and the elimination of customs duties shall be completed effective no later than 1 July 2019; and










(b)


elimination of such other duties and charges of any kind, within the meaning of Article II:1(b) of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1994, shall be completed by 1 July 2016.









Accelerated implementation









4.


The parties encourage autonomous immediate elimination of customs duties or accelerated implementation prior to the dates set out in paragraph 3 above, for instance for products with relatively low customs duties.





Scheduling timeframe









5.


As early as possible, and no later than 30 October 2015, each party shall provide all other parties with a draft schedule containing (a) the details concerning how the appropriate duty treatment shall be provided in its Schedule of Concessions and (b) a list of detailed HS subheadings involved for products specified in Attachment B, which shall also include a headnote stating that such products shall be provided duty-free treatment wherever they are classified in the HS. Each draft schedule shall be reviewed and approved by the parties on a consensus basis taking into account the concerns expressed by the parties in the negotiations. This review process should be completed no later than 4 December 2015.












6.


After this review process has been completed for any such draft schedule of a party, that party shall submit its approved schedule, subject to the completion of domestic procedural requirements, as a modification to its Schedule of Concessions, in accordance with the Decision of 26 March 1980 on Procedures for Modification and Rectification of Schedules of Tariff Concessions (BISD 27S/25).












7.


Each party shall implement paragraphs 3 and 6 of this Declaration once the parties review and approve on a consensus basis draft schedules that represent approximately 90 per cent of world trade (2) in the products covered by this Declaration.





Format of draft schedules of concessions









8.


In order to implement its binding and elimination of customs duties and other duties and charges of any kind on products listed in the Attachments, each party's modifications to its Schedule of Concessions shall:






(a)


in the case of products classified with HS 2007 subheadings listed in Attachment A, create, where appropriate, sub-divisions in its Schedule of Concessions at the national tariff line level; and










(b)


in the case of the products specified in Attachment B, attach an annex to its Schedule of Concessions including all products in Attachment B, which is to specify the detailed tariff classification for those products at either the national tariff line level or the HS 6-digit level.









Acceptance









9.


The Declaration shall be open for acceptance by all WTO Members. Acceptance shall be notified in writing to the WTO Director-General who shall communicate it to all parties.





Non-tariff barriers









10.


The parties agree to intensify consultations concerning non-tariff barriers in the information technology sector. To this effect, the parties support the possible development of an upgraded work programme on non-tariff barriers.





Final considerations









11.


Parties shall meet periodically, and at least one year prior to regular amendments to the Harmonised System nomenclature by the World Customs Organisation, and no later than January 2018, to review the product coverage specified in the Attachments and consider whether, in the light of technological developments, experience in applying the tariff concessions, or changes to the HS nomenclature, the Attachments should be updated to incorporate additional products.












12.


The parties recognise that the results of these negotiations involve concessions that should be taken into account in ongoing multilateral non-agricultural market access negotiations within the framework of the Doha Development Agenda.





Attachments to this Declaration:







—


Attachment A lists the HS 2007 subheadings or parts thereof to be covered by this Declaration.










—


Attachment B lists specific products to be covered by this Declaration wherever they are classified in the HS 2007.






(1)  On behalf of the customs union of Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

(2)  To be calculated by the WTO Secretariat and communicated to the parties on the basis of the most recent data available.





ATTACHMENT A










Item




HS 2007




ex
 (*1)




Product Description






001



350691 


ex


Optically clear free-film adhesives and optically clear curable liquid adhesives of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of flat panel displays or touch-sensitive screen panels





002



370130 


 


Other plates and film, with any side exceeding 255 mm





003



370199 


 


Other





004



370590 


 


Other





005



370790 


 


Other





006



390799 


ex


Thermoplastic liquid crystal aromatic polyester copolymers





007



841459 


ex


Fans of a kind used solely or principally for cooling microprocessors, telecommunication apparatus, automatic data processing machines or units of automatic data processing machines





008



841950 


ex


Heat exchange units made of fluoropolymers and with inlet and outlet tube bores with inside diameters measuring 3 cm or less





009



842010 


ex


Roll laminators of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuit substrates or printed circuits





010



842129 


ex


Liquid filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus made of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membrane thickness not exceeding 140 microns





011



842139 


ex


Filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for gases, with stainless steel housing, and with inlet and outlet tube bores with inside diameters not exceeding 1,3 cm





012



842199 


ex


Parts of filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for liquids, made of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membrane thickness not exceeding 140 microns; parts of filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for gases, with stainless steel housing, and with inlet and outlet tube bores with inside diameters not exceeding 1,3 cm





013



842320 


ex


Scales for continuous weighing of goods on conveyors using electronic means for gauging weights





014



842330 


ex


Constant weight scales and scales for discharging a predetermined weight of material into a bag or container, including hopper scales, using electronic means for gauging weight





015



842381 


ex


Other weighing machinery, having a maximum weighing capacity not exceeding 30 kg using electronic means for gauging weight





016



842382 


ex


Other weighing machinery, having a maximum weighing capacity exceeding 30 kg but not exceeding 5 000  kg using electronic means for gauging weight, excluding machines for weighing motor vehicles





017



842389 


ex


Other weighing machinery, having a maximum weighing capacity exceeding 5 000  kg using electronic means for gauging weight





018



842390 


ex


Parts of weighing machinery using electronic means for gauging weight, excluding parts of machines for weighing motor vehicles





019



842489 


ex


Mechanical appliances for projecting, dispersing, or spraying of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits or printed circuit assemblies





020



842490 


ex


Parts of mechanical appliances for projecting, dispersing, or spraying of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits or printed circuit assemblies





021



844230 


 


Machinery, apparatus, and equipment





022



844240 


 


Parts of the foregoing machinery, apparatus or equipment





023



844250 


 


Plates, cylinders and other printing components; plates, cylinders and lithographic stones, prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished)





024



844331 


 


Machines which perform two or more of the functions of printing, copying or facsimile transmission, capable of connecting to an automatic data processing machine or to a network





025



844332 


 


Other, capable of connecting to an automatic data processing machine or to a network





026



844339 


 


Other





027



844391 


 


Parts and accessories of printing machinery used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 84.42 





028



844399 


 


Other





029



845610 


ex


Machine tools operated by laser or other light or photon beam processes of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits, printed circuit assemblies, parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines





030



846693 


ex


Parts and accessories of machine tools operated by laser or other light or photon beam processes of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits, printed circuit assemblies, parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of machine-tools operated by ultrasonic processes of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits, printed circuit assemblies, parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of machining centres of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of numerically controlled (other lathes) of a kind used solely or principally the manufacture of parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of numerically controlled (other drilling) of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of numerically controlled (other milling machines) of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of sawing or cutting-off machines of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines; Parts and accessories of machine-tools operated by electro-discharge processes of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits, printed circuit assemblies, parts of heading 8517 , or parts of automatic data processing machines





031



847210 


 


Duplicating machines





032



847290 


 


Other





033



847310 


 


Parts and accessories of the machines of heading 8469 





034



847340 


 


Parts and accessories of the machines of heading 8472 





035



847521 


 


Machines for making optical fibres and preforms thereof





036



847590 


ex


Parts of machines of subheading 847521 





037



847689 


ex


Money-changing machines





038



847690 


ex


Parts of money-changing machines





039



847989 


ex


Automated electronic component placement machines of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuit assemblies





040



847990 


ex


Parts of automated electronic component placement machines of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuit assemblies





041



848610 


 


Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of boules or wafers





042



848620 


 


Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits





043



848630 


 


Machines and apparatus for the manufacture of flat panel displays





044



848640 


 


Machines and apparatus specified in Note 9(C) to this Chapter





045



848690 


 


Parts and accessories





046



850440 


 


Static converters





047



850450 


 


Other Inductors





048



850490 


 


Parts





049



850590 


ex


Electromagnets of a kind used solely or principally for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus other than electromagnets of heading 90.18 





050



851430 


ex


Other furnaces and ovens of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits or printed circuit assemblies





051



851490 


ex


Parts of other furnaces and ovens of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits or printed circuit assemblies





052



851519 


ex


Other wave soldering machines of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuit assemblies





053



851590 


ex


Parts of other wave soldering machines of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuit assemblies





054



851761 


 


Base stations





055



851762 


 


Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus





056



851769 


 


Other





057



851770 


 


Parts





058



851810 


 


Microphones and stands therefor





059



851821 


 


Single loudspeakers, mounted in their enclosures





060



851822 


 


Multiple loudspeakers, mounted in the same enclosure





061



851829 


 


Other





062



851830 


 


Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers





063



851840 


 


Audio-frequency electric amplifiers





064



851850 


 


Electric sound amplifier sets





065



851890 


 


Parts





066



851981 


 


Using magnetic, optical or semiconductor media





067



851989 


 


Other





068



852110 


 


Magnetic tape-type





069



852190 


 


Other





070



852290 


 


Other





071



852321 


 


Cards incorporating a magnetic stripe





072



852329 


 


Other





073



852340 


 


Optical media





074



852351 


 


Solid-state non-volatile storage devices





075



852352 


 


‘Smart cards’





076



852359 


 


Other





077



852380 


 


Other





078



852550 


 


Transmission apparatus





079



852560 


 


Transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus





080



852580 


 


Television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders





081



852610 


 


Radar apparatus





082



852691 


 


Radio navigational aid apparatus





083



852692 


 


Radio remote control apparatus





084



852712 


 


Pocket-size radio cassette-players





085



852713 


 


Other apparatus combined with sound recording or reproducing apparatus





086



852719 


 


Other





087



852721 


ex


Radio-broadcast receivers not capable of operating without an external source of power, of a kind used in motor vehicles, combined with sound recording or reproducing apparatus capable of receiving and decoding digital radio data system signals





088



852729 


 


Other





089



852791 


 


Combined with sound recording or reproducing apparatus





090



852792 


 


Not combined with sound recording or reproducing apparatus but combined with a clock





091



852799 


 


Other





092



852849 


 


Other





093



852871 


 


Not designed to incorporate a video display or screen





094



852910 


 


Aerials and aerial reflectors of all kinds; parts suitable for use therewith





095



852990 


ex


Other, excluding organic light emitting diode modules and organic light emitting diode panels for the apparatus of subheadings 8528.72  or 8528.73 





096



853180 


ex


Other apparatus excluding doorbells, chimes, buzzers and similar





097



853190 


 


Parts





098



853630 


 


Other apparatus for protecting electrical circuits





099



853650 


 


Other switches





100



853690 


ex


Other apparatus, excluding battery clamp of a kind used for motor vehicles of heading 8702 , 8703 , 8704 , or 8711 





101



853810 


 


Boards, panels, consoles, desks, cabinets and other bases for the goods of heading 8537 , not equipped with their apparatus





102



853939 


ex


Cold-cathode fluorescent lamps(CCFLs) for backlighting of flat panel displays





103



854231 


 


Processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits





104



854232 


 


Memories





105



854233 


 


Amplifiers





106



854239 


 


Other





107



854290 


 


Parts





108



854320 


 


Signal generators





109



854330 


ex


Electroplating and electrolysis machines of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits





110



854370 


ex


Articles specifically designed for connection to telegraphic or telephonic apparatus or instruments or to telegraphic or telephonic networks





111



854370 


ex


Microwave amplifiers





112



854370 


ex


Cordless infrared remote control devices for video game consoles





113



854370 


ex


Digital flight-data recorders





114



854370 


ex


Portable battery operated electronic reader for recording and reproducing text, still image or audio file





115



854370 


ex


Digital signal processing apparatus capable of connecting to a wired or wireless network for the mixing of sound





116



854390 


 


Parts





117



880260 


ex


Telecommunications satellites





118



880390 


ex


Parts of telecommunication satellites





119



880521 


 


Air combat simulators and parts thereof





120



880529 


 


Other





121



900120 


 


Sheets and plates of polarising material





122



900190 


 


Other





123



900219 


 


Other





124



900220 


 


Filters





125



900290 


 


Other





126



901050 


 


Other apparatus and equipment for photographic (including cinematographic) laboratories; negatoscopes





127



901060 


 


Projection screens





128



901090 


ex


Parts and accessories of articles of subheadings 901050  and 901060 





129



901110 


 


Stereoscopic microscopes





130



901180 


 


Other microscopes





131



901190 


 


Parts and accessories





132



901210 


 


Microscopes other than optical microscopes; diffraction apparatus





133



901290 


 


Parts and accessories





134



901310 


ex


Telescopes designed to form parts of machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of this Chapter or Section XVI





135



901320 


 


Lasers, other than laser diodes





136



901390 


ex


Parts and accessories, other than for telescopic sights for fitting to arms or for periscopes





137



901410 


 


Direction finding compasses





138



901420 


 


Instruments and appliances for aeronautical or space navigation (other than compasses)





139



901480 


 


Other instruments and appliances





140



901490 


 


Parts and accessories





141



901510 


 


Rangefinders





142



901520 


 


Theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers)





143



901540 


 


Photogrammetrical surveying instruments and appliances





144



901580 


 


Other instruments and appliances





145



901590 


 


Parts and accessories





146



901811 


 


Electro-cardiographs





147



901812 


 


Ultrasonic scanning apparatus





148



901813 


 


Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus





149



901819 


 


Other





150



901820 


 


Ultra-violet or infra-red ray apparatus





151



901850 


 


Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances





152



901890 


ex


Electro-surgical or electro-medical instruments and appliances, and parts and accessories thereof





153



902150 


 


Pacemakers for stimulating heart muscles, excluding parts and accessories





154



902190 


 


Other





155



902212 


 


Computed tomography apparatus





156



902213 


 


Other, for dental uses





157



902214 


 


Other, for medical, surgical or veterinary uses





158



902219 


 


For other uses





159



902221 


 


For medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses





160



902229 


 


For other uses





161



902230 


 


X-ray tubes





162



902290 


ex


Parts and accessories of apparatus based on the use of X-rays





163



902300 


 


Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (for example, in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other uses





164



902410 


 


Machines and appliances for testing metals





165



902480 


 


Other machines and appliances





166



902490 


 


Parts and accessories





167



902519 


 


Other





168



902590 


 


Parts and accessories





169



902710 


 


Gas or smoke analysis apparatus





170



902780 


 


Other instruments and apparatus





171



902790 


 


Microtomes; parts and accessories





172



902830 


 


Electricity meters





173



902890 


 


Parts and accessories





174



903010 


 


Instruments and apparatus for measuring or detecting ionising radiations





175



903020 


 


Oscilloscopes and oscillographs





176



903031 


 


Multimeters without a recording device





177



903032 


 


Multimeters with a recording device





178



903033 


ex


Other, without a recording device, excluding resistance measuring instruments





179



903039 


 


Other, with a recording device





180



903084 


 


Other, with a recording device





181



903089 


 


Other





182



903090 


 


Parts and Accessories





183



903110 


 


Machines for balancing mechanical parts





184



903149 


 


Other





185



903180 


 


Other instruments, appliances and machines





186



903190 


 


Parts and accessories





187



903220 


 


Manostats





188



903281 


 


Hydraulic or pneumatic





189



950410 


 


Video games of a kind used with a television receiver





190



950430 


ex


Other games, operated by coins, banknotes, bank cards, token, or by any other means of payment, other than automatic bowling equipment and games of chance that immediately return a monetary award





191



950490 


ex


Video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 950430 






(*1)  Partially covered subheadings are identified by the symbol ‘ex’.






ATTACHMENT B








192



Multi-component integrated circuits (MCOs): a combination of one or more monolithic, hybrid, or multi-chip integrated circuits with at least one of the following components: silicon-based sensors, actuators, oscillators, resonators or combinations thereof, or components performing the functions of articles classifiable under heading 8532 , 8533 , 8541 , or inductors classifiable under heading 8504 , formed to all intents and purposes indivisibly into a single body like an integrated circuit, as a component of a kind used for assembly onto a printed circuit board (PCB) or other carrier, through the connecting of pins, leads, balls, lands, bumps, or pads.
For the purpose of this definition the following expressions mean:1.Components may be discrete, manufactured independently then assembled onto the rest of the MCO, or integrated into other components.2.Silicon based means built on a silicon substrate, or made of silicon materials, or manufactured onto integrated circuit die.





(a)


‘Silicon based sensors’ consist of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of detecting physical or chemical quantities and transducing these into electric signals, caused by resulting variations in electric properties or displacement of a mechanical structure.
‘Physical or chemical quantities’ relates to real world phenomena, such as pressure, acoustic waves, acceleration, vibration, movement, orientation, strain, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, light, radioactivity, humidity, flow, chemicals concentration, etc.










3(b)


‘Silicon based actuators’ consist of microelectronic and mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of converting electrical signals into physical movement.










3(c)


‘Silicon based resonators’ are components that consist of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and have the function of generating a mechanical or electrical oscillation of a predefined frequency that depends on the physical geometry of these structures in response to an external input.










3(d)


‘Silicon based oscillators’ are active components that consist of microelectronic or mechanical structures that are created in the mass or on the surface of a semiconductor and that have the function of generating a mechanical or electrical oscillation of a predefined frequency that depends on the physical geometry of these structures.









193




Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Backlights modules, which are lighting sources that consist of one or more LEDs, and one or more connectors and are mounted on a printed circuit or other similar substrate, and other passive components, whether or not combined with optical components or protective diodes, and used as backlights illumination for liquid crystal displays (LCDs)





194




Touch-Sensitive Data Input Devices (so-called touch screens) without display capabilities, for incorporation into apparatus having a display, which function by detecting the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The sensing of touch may be obtained by means of resistance, electrostatic capacity, acoustic pulse recognition, infra-red lights, or other touch-sensitive technology





195




Ink cartridges (with or without an integrated print head) for insertion into apparatus of HS subheadings 844331 , 844332  or 844339 , and incorporating mechanical or electrical components; thermoplastic or electrostatic toner cartridges (with or without moving parts) for insertion into apparatus of HS subheadings 844331 , 844332  or 844339 ; solid ink in engineered shapes for insertion into apparatus of HS subheadings 844331 , 844332  or 844339 





196




Printed matter which grants the right to access, install, reproduce or otherwise use software (including games), data, internet content (including in-game or in-application content) or services, or telecommunications services (including mobile services) (**)






197




Self-adhesive circular polishing pads of a kind used for the manufacture of semiconductor wafers





198




Boxes, cases, crates and similar articles, of plastic, specially shaped or fitted for the conveyance or packing of semiconductor wafers, masks, or reticles, of subheading 392310  or 848690 





199




Vacuum pumps of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductors or flat panel displays





200




Plasma cleaner machines that remove organic contaminants from electron microscopy specimens and specimen holders





201




Portable interactive electronic education devices primarily designed for children






(**)  The tariff elimination for printed matter shall only affect the rights and obligations with respect to trade in goods, that is, it shall not affect market access other than tariffs of the participants. Nothing in the ITA expansion agreement shall prevent an ITA member from regulating the content of such goods, including internet content, among other things. Nothing in the ITA expansion agreement shall affect a member's market access rights and obligations on trade in services or prevent a member from regulating its services market.