RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/MA/SPEC/25
14 October 2003
(03-5439)
Committee on Market Access
DRAFT
REPORT (2003) OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS
1. Since the last review1, the Committee on Market Access has held two formal meetings (26
March 2003 and [20 October 2003], plus the resumption of a suspended meeting from 2002 on 29
November 2002) and five informal meetings (7 Oc tober, 29 October, 15 November, 21 November and
29 November 2002). The minutes of the formal meetings are contained in documentsG/MA/M/33/Add.1, G/MA/M/34 and [G/MA/M/35].  In addition, two periodic reports giving an
overview of the issues discussed in the Committee and providing factual information related to the
requests for waivers and waiver extensions, both for the introduction of HS96 changes and for the
transposition of schedules into the Harmonized System are contained in documents G/MA/149 and
[G/MA/150].
2. At its meeting of 26 March 2003, the Committee took note of the nomination of Ms. Jo
Lomas (United Kingdom) as Chairperson of the Committee for the current year and elected her by
acclamation.  At that meeting, it was agreed that informal consultations would be carried out in order
to elect a Vice-Chairperson for the current year.
A. 
TRANSPOSITION OF SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS INTO THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM (HS)
3. The Committee took note that there was [one] Member under waiver for the transposition of
their schedules into the Harmonized System.
B. INTRODUCTION OF HS96 CHANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS
4. On 13 December 1995, several Members were granted individual waivers for the introduction
of HS96 changes (WT/L/124 + Corr.1) which for operational reasons were grouped into one single
decision.  These waivers were extended by successive decisions of the General Council until
30 April 2002 (WT/L/400).   The Committee agreed in 2001  that this would be the last HS96 waiver
to be granted on a collective basis but that this did not preclude any Member from requesting a waiver
on an individual basis.  In this connection, at its formal meetings of 26 March 2003 and [20 October
2003], the Committee took note of and approved the individual requests for waivers to carry out
possible consultations/negotiations under Article XXVIII following the introduction of HS96 changes
in national tariffs.
5. At its formal meetings, the Committee examined the situation related to the submission of HS96
documentation set out in documents  G/MA/TAR/2/Rev.30-31.    [At its meeting of 20 October 2003, the
Committee noted that the submissions of [seven] Memb ers, whether they had requested an extension of
waivers or not, remained pending due to ongoing consultations and/or negotiations.] [The Committee
agreed to hold informal meetings on the review of the HS96 situation.]
                                                     
1 G/L/582 (30 October 2002).G/MA/SPEC/25
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C. INTRODUCTION OF HS2002 C HANGES TO SCHEDULES OF CONCESSIONS
6. At its formal meetings, the Committee took note of documents G/MA/TAR/4 and its revisions
containing information on documents circulated in connection with the procedures to introduce
HS2002 changes to schedules of concessions. [The Chairperson proposed to have informal
consultations on the matter before the end of the year.]
D. DATABASES
7. With reference to the modalities and operation of the Integrated Data Base (IDB), the
Committee, at its formal meetings, examined the status of IDB submissions on the basis of documents
G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.16-17.  [The Secretariat presen ted an oral report on the status of IDB
dissemination, use of IDB informati on, IDB technical assistance, status of submissions, and the status
of software development (IDB reporting tools and internet analysis facility).]
8. [At its formal meetings, the Committee took note of the Secretariat's reports on the status of
the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database Project which included the status of CTS files for both
the tariff and agricultural commitments for Members. The software development status for
dissemination and analytical facilities was also presented.]
9. At its meeting of 26 March 2003 the Committee agreed to the requests for access to the IDB
and CTS databases from the OECD and the F AO, contained in documents G/MA/W/43 and
G/MA/W/47, respectively.  Both organizations ha d undertaken to use and publish the information
contained in these databases in accordance with the terms and conditions laid out in the documentG/MA/115. [At its meeting of 20 October 2003 the Committee took up the request for access to the
IDB and CTS databases by the International Textiles and Clothing Bureau (ITCB) contained in
document G/MA/W/48.]
E. I
MPLEMENTATION ISSUES
(1) Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns:  Meaning to be given to the phrase "substantial
interest" in paragraph 2 (d) of Article XIII of GATT 1994 (paragra ph 1.2 of WT/MIN(01)17)
10. At its formal meeting of 23 September 2002 the Committee suspended discussions on
implementation issues in order to undertake further work on this issue.  At its resumed formal meeting
of 29 November 2002 the Committee agreed to forward document G/MA/119, containing
recommendations, to  the General Council.
(2) Outstanding Implementation Issues raised by Members: Tiret 99 of Job(01)/152/Rev.1 –
Measures designed to secure a Redistribution of Negotiating Rights in Favour of Small and
Medium-sized Exporting Members in Trade Negotiations
11. At its resumed formal meeting of 29 November 2002 the Committee adopted its report to the
TNC contained in document G/MA/118.
F. PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL OF ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF  
CHINA – CHINA 'S TRANSITIONAL REVIEW MECHANISM
12. On China's Transitional Review Mechanism, the review took place at the meeting of 20
October 2003.  Information was provided by Chin a in G/MA/W/52 and questions and/or comments by
Japan, the European Communities and the United States had been circulated in documents
G/MA/W/49, G/MA/W/50 and G/MA/W/51, respectively.  [The Committee completed its review and
agreed to forward its report in [G/M A/151] to the Council for Trade in Goods.]G/MA/SPEC/25
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G. STATUS OF NOTIFICATIONS ON QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AND REVERSE
NOTIFICATIONS OF NON-TARIFF MEASURES
13. At its meeting of 26 March 2003, the Committee reviewed the status of notifications under
the "Decision on Notification Procedures for Quantitative Restrictions" on the basis of Secretariat
documents G/MA/NTM/QR/1/Add.9 and its corrigendum.
H. OTHER ACTIVITIES
14. At its meeting of 26 March 2003, the Committee took note of document G/MA/TAR/3/Rev.8
and its corrigendum which reflected the latest tariff information available in the Secretariat.  A second
corrigendum was circulated after the meeting.
The report will be completed in light of the discussions that will take place at the Committee
meeting on 20 October 2003.
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