REPORT (2014) OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS

In accordance with the "Procedures for an Annual Overview of WTO Activities and for Reporting under the WTO" (WT/L/105), the Council for Trade in Goods is to report each year to the General Council on the activities in the Council as well as in the subsidiary bodies. The reports are to be "factual in nature, containing an indication of actions and decisions taken, with cross references to reports of subordinate bodies and could follow the model of the GATT 1947 Council reports to the CONTRACTING PARTIES".

Since its 2013 Annual Report (G/L/1057) was issued, the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG, or the Council) met four times in formal session, on the following dates: 9 April 2014 (G/C/M/118); 19 June 2014 (G/C/M/119); 17 November 2014 (G/C/M/120^[1]); and 25 November 2014 (G/C/M/121¹).

The subject matters raised and/or acted upon in the Council were as follows:

1   Election of Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods. 3

2   Appointment of Officers for the subsidiary bodies of the Council. 3

3   Matters of the Committee on Market Access. 3

3.1   Derestriction of Historical Bilateral Negotiating Documentation of the Kennedy Round. 3

3.2   Collective waiver requests on the introduction of the Harmonized System 2002, 2007 and 2012  3

4   Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement. 4

5   European Union enlargement: Procedures under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT 1994 (G/L/1051/Add.1 and G/L/1051/Add.2). 5

5.1   Enlargement of the European Union on 1 January 2007. 5

5.2   Enlargement of the European Union on 1 July 2013 (G/L/1051/Add.1 and G/L/1051/Add.2) 5

6   Notification of Regional Trade Agreements. 5

7   Notifications. 6

-           Status of notifications under the provisions of the Agreements in Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement 6

-           Notifications of actions taken under the 1999 Waiver for Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least Developed Countries (WT/L/304 and WT/L/759) 6

8   Gabon – Schedule XLVII: Renegotiations under GATT Article XXVIII:4 and Article xxiv:6 of the gatt 1994 (G/SECRET/36/add.1). 6

9   Brazil – Indirect Taxation: Conditions to Obtain Tax Benefits in Various Sectors – Statement by Japan.. 6

10   Indonesia's Import and export Restricting Policies and Practices – Request from the European Union, Japan, and the United States of america. 6

11   Ukraine – Trade policy and measures – Statement by japan.. 7

12   Russian Federation – trade restricting measures – Request from the European Union, Japan and the United States of america. 7

13   Japan - Wood Use Points Programme. 7

14   Nigeria – Local Content Measures in Oil and Gas. 8

15   Nigeria – Restriction/Ban Imposed by Nigeria to Imports of Sea Products  8

16   European Union – The EU Renewable Energy Directive (eu red) – Request from Indonesia. 8

17   European Union – restrictions on the importation of BIODIESEL FROM THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC: MINISTERIAL ORDER OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN No. IET/822/2012 OF 20 APRIL 2012 AND RESOLUTION No. 1173 OF 24 JANUARY 2014 OF THE SECRETARIAT FOR ENERGY OF THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND TOURISM OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN – STATEMENT BY Argentina. 8

18   UNITED STATES – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA) – NOTICE ON DATA AVAILABILITY CONCERNING RENEWABLE FUELS PRODUCED FROM PALM OIL UNDER THE RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD (RFS) PROGRAM – REQUEST FROM INDONESIA. 9

19   european union – unfavourable practices affecting palm oil – request from Indonesia. 9

20   BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA – MEASURES AFFECTING TRADE IN GOODS –STATEMENT BY PANAMA. 9

21   EUROPEAN UNION – AUTONOMOUS PREFERENTIAL MEASURES IN RESPECT OF UKRAINE – REQUEST FROM THE Russian Federation.. 9

22   trade restrictive measures by certain wto members – request from the Russian Federation.. 9

23   Brazil – import duties on diammonium phosphate (DAP) – request from the russian federation.. 10

24   Norway – measures affecting trade in fish goods – request from the Russian Federation.. 10

25   KINGdom of Bahrain – customs duties on cigarettes. 10

26   Ukraine – anti‑dumping measure on imports of ammonium nitrate from the Russian Federation.. 10

27   Canada – preferential measures under canada's tariff regime – request from the separate customs territory of taiwan, penghu, kinmen and matsu.. 10

28   statement by the United States of America on data, hs transposition work, and outstanding notifications. 10

29   Work Programme on Electronic Commerce. 10

30   Consideration of annual reports of subsidiary bodies of the Council for Trade in Goods. 11

31   Adoption of the Annual Report of the Council for Trade in Goods to the General Council. 11

1  Election of Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods

1.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council elected Ambassador Joakim REITER (Sweden) as its Chairperson for 2014.

1.2.  At the meeting on 17 November, and following the departure of Ambassador Reiter from Geneva, as well as the consultation process undertaken by the Chairperson of the General Council, the CTG elected Ambassador Atanas Atanassov PAPARIZOV (Bulgaria), as its Chairperson for the remaining period of 2014.

2  Appointment of Officers for the subsidiary bodies of the Council

2.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council agreed on the nominations of the following persons as Chairpersons of its subsidiary bodies for 2014:

2.2.  At the same meeting, the Council agreed to proceed on the understanding that, as concerns the Vice‑Chairpersons, it would be for the subsidiary bodies to decide if they needed a Vice‑Chairperson in cases where the option existed under the respective Agreement and/or rules of procedure, and for the respective Chairperson to hold the necessary consultations.

3  Matters of the Committee on Market Access

3.1  Derestriction of Historical Bilateral Negotiating Documentation of the Kennedy Round

3.1.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council considered and approved the draft decision on the "Derestriction of Historical Bilateral Negotiating Documentation of the Kennedy Round" contained in document G/MA/W/113, which was previously discussed and approved by the Committee on Market Access (CMA) on 15 May 2014. This Decision, once approved, was forwarded to the General Council for adoption.

3.2  Collective waiver requests on the introduction of the Harmonized System 2002, 2007 and 2012

3.2.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered three collective waiver requests on the introduction of Harmonized System 2002, 2007 and 2012 changes into WTO Schedules of Concessions (see Point 4 below).

4  Waivers under Article IX of the WTO Agreement

Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions:

Collective request for a waiver extension (G/C/W/702)

4.1.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered a collective request for an extension of the waiver in connection with the introduction of HS2002 changes to the Schedules of Concessions. The Council approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision (G/C/W/702) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.

Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions:

Collective request for a waiver extension (G/C/W/703/Rev.1)

4.2.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered a collective request for an extension of the waiver in connection with the introduction of HS 2007 changes to the Schedules of Concessions. The Council approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision (G/C/W/703/Rev.1) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.

Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 changes into WTO Schedules of Tariff Concessions:

Collective request for a waiver (G/C/W/704)

4.3.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered a collective request for a waiver in connection with the introduction of HS 2012 changes to the Schedules of Concessions. The Council approved the waiver request and recommended that the draft decision (G/C/W/704) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.

Philippines – Request for a Waiver relating to Special Treatment for Rice of the Philippines (G/C/W/665/Rev.4)

4.4.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Philippines informed the Council on the further consultations and discussions it had held with interested delegations on this issue. The Council took note of the statements made by Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the United States and Viet Nam, regarding their concerns, discussions and negotiations with the Philippines on this issue, and agreed to revert to this request at its next meeting.

4.5.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council approved the waiver request submitted by the Philippines in document G/C/W/665/Rev.4 and agreed that the draft waiver decision and its Annex (attached to G/C/W/665/Rev.4) be forwarded to the General Council for adoption.

Jordan – Request for a Waiver relating to the Transitional Period for the Elimination of the Export Subsidy Program for Jordan (G/C/W/705)

4.6.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered a waiver request and a draft waiver decision concerning the Transitional Period for the Elimination of the Export Subsidy Program for Jordan (G/C/W/705). The Council took note of the statement made by Jordan; and of the statements made by the Kingdom of Bahrain; Canada; China; Egypt; the European Union; Japan; Korea; the State of Kuwait (on its own behalf and on behalf of the Arab Group); New Zealand; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Tunisia; Turkey; and the United States of America. The Council agreed to revert to this issue at its first meeting in 2015; and the Chairperson indicated that, since the 90 days for consideration of a waiver request to which Article IX:3(b) of the Marrakesh Agreement refers falls on 16 February 2015, he intended to make a factual report to the General Council on this issue at its meeting of 19 February 2015.

United States of America – Request for a waiver relating to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (G/C/W/708)

4.7.  At its meeting on 25 November the Council considered a waiver request and a draft waiver decision submitted by the United States of America relating to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act contained in document G/C/W/708. The Council took note of the statement made by the United States of America and of the statements made by the European Union; Saint Lucia on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); and Jamaica. The Council will revert to this issue at its first meeting in 2015.

5  European Union enlargement: Procedures under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT 1994 (G/L/1051/Add.1 and G/L/1051/Add.2)

5.1  Enlargement of the European Union on 1 January 2007

5.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the European Union informed the Council that GATT Article XXVIII.3 procedures concerning the EU enlargement of 2007 had been completed; all the agreements had been published, and since the period in which Members' rights were preserved expired on 1 July 2014, the EU considered that this period did not need to be extended.

5.2  Enlargement of the European Union on 1 July 2013 (G/L/1051/Add.1 and G/L/1051/Add.2)

5.2.  At the meeting of 9 April the Council agreed to the extension of the deadline set out in the communication G/L/1051/Add.1 from the European Union, or until 1 January 2015.

5.3.  At the meeting on 17 November the Council agreed to the extension of the deadline set out in the communication G/L/1051/Add.2 from the European Union, or until 1 July 2015.

6  Notification of Regional Trade Agreements

6.1.  At its meetings on 9 April, 19 June, and 17 November, the Council was informed of the following notifications on regional trade agreements:

· Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (WT/REG348/N/1);

· Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and Central America – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (WT/REG349/N/1/Rev.1);

· Agreement between Singapore and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Partnership (WT/REG350/N/1);

· Free Trade Agreement between Switzerland and China (WT/REG351/N/1);

· Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (WT/REG352/N/1 and WT/REG352/N/1/Add.1);

· Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine (WT/REG353/N/1);

· Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia (WT/REG354/N/1 and WT/REG354/N/1/Add.1);

· Free Trade Agreement between Iceland and China (WT/REG355/N/1);

· Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong, China and Chile (WT/REG/356/N/1).

6.2.  At the meeting on 17 November, the Council took note of the statement made by the Russian Federation concerning the agreements concluded by the European Union with several Members, including Ukraine. It also took note of the responses given by the European Union.

7  Notifications

-        Status of notifications under the provisions of the Agreements in Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement

7.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council took note of the latest revision of the status of notifications contained in document G/L/223/Rev.21. At that meeting the delegations of Australia, Chinese Taipei, and Japan thanked the Secretariat for the revised format to reduce the length of the document.

-        Notifications of actions taken under the 1999 Waiver for Preferential Tariff Treatment for Least Developed Countries (WT/L/304 and WT/L/759)

7.2.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council took note of the notification submitted by Chile in document G/C/W/695 – WT/COMTD/N/44 on the implementation of the benefits deriving from the elimination of its customs duties for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and of Chile's statement indicating that its Duty‑Free Quota‑Free (DFQF) Scheme was now operative and established a zero per cent duty for imports of goods originating in LDCs.

8  Gabon – Schedule XLVII: Renegotiations under GATT Article XXVIII:4 and Article xxiv:6 of the gatt 1994 (G/SECRET/36/add.1)

8.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council considered the request by Gabon contained in document G/SECRET/36/Add.1 to further extend for an additional period of 60 days or until 17 June 2014, the period agreed to renegotiate its Schedule of Concessions. The Council took note of the statements made by Gabon; Brazil; Cameroon; the European Union; Japan; Nigeria; and the United States, and agreed to further extend the renegotiation period for Gabon until 17 June 2014.

8.2.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council took note of the statement by Gabon indicating that there were ongoing and pending discussions with interested delegations on the renegotiation of its Schedule of Concessions, and agreed to further extend the renegotiation period for Gabon until 15 September 2014.

8.3.  In a communication dated 12 September 2014, and in light of renegotiations pending with a number of Members, the delegation of Gabon once more requested an extension of the renegotiation period of its Schedule of Concession for a further period of 90 days, or until 16 December 2014. In the absence of written objections to this request, it was understood that the Council had agreed on this further extension and that the issue would be included in the agenda of the Council's meeting scheduled to take place on Monday, 17 November 2014.

8.4.  At its meeting on 17 November, the Council took note of the statement made by the Minister of Commerce, Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Crafts and Services Development of Gabon informing delegations that Gabon had concluded the renegotiations of its Schedule of Concessions XLVII with interested Members. The Council took note of the statements made by the European Union, Japan, Morocco, and the United States, and of the information by the Chair that Gabon had to continue with the further steps of GATT Article XXVIII.

9  Brazil – Indirect Taxation: Conditions to Obtain Tax Benefits in Various Sectors – Statement by Japan

9.1.  At its meetings of 9 April and 19 June, the Council took note of the statements made by Australia; Canada; the European Union; Japan; Korea; and the United States of America on the Brazilian programme INOVAR-AUTO and the use by Brazil of indirect taxes to various other sectors. The Council also took note of the responses from Brazil on its tax system measures.

10  Indonesia's Import and export Restricting Policies and Practices – Request from the European Union, Japan, and the United States of america

10.1.  At its meetings of 9 April and 19 June, the Council took note of the statements made by Australia; Canada; Chinese Taipei; the European Union; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; Thailand; and the United States reiterating their continued concerns about Indonesia's use of protectionist measures, including import entry restrictions, non‑automatic licensing requirements, export restrictions, discriminatory taxation, local content requirements, and of the Industry and Trade Laws. The Council also took note of the responses by Indonesia.

10.2.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council took note of the statements made by Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, and the United States of America, on their continued concerns about Indonesia's increased trade and investment restrictions that affected a broad range of sectors, including agriculture, information and communications technology, energy, and consumer goods. Indonesia's new Government was encouraged to improve the business and investment climate and to ease the import licensing system. The Council also took note of the responses by Indonesia.

11  Ukraine – Trade policy and measures – Statement by japan

11.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council considered this issue at the request of Japan and took note of the statements made by Australia; Japan; the European Union; and the United States regarding the market–oriented reforms and measures put in place by the new Ukrainian government, and their call to Ukraine to reconsider the withdrawal of its Article XXVIII notification. It also took note of the response by Ukraine.

12  Russian Federation – trade restricting measures – Request from the European Union, Japan and the United States of america

12.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council took note of the statements made by Australia; Chinese Taipei; the European Union; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; Switzerland; Ukraine; and the United States regarding their continued concerns over the lack of implementation of the Russian Federation's accession commitments and various trade restricting measures, including, among others, lack of transparency concerning import licensing procedures, technical regulations and safeguard measures; lack of implementation of bound rates in respect of various tariff lines; lack of information concerning its Customs Union and the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary obligations; import ban on some agricultural products; and trade defence measures. The Council also took note of the responses given by the Russian Federation.

12.2.  At its meeting of 19 June the Council took note of the statements made by Australia; Canada; Chinese Taipei; the European Union; Korea; New Zealand; Ukraine; and the United States on their concerns with regard to the non‑implementation of WTO bound rates for import duties; trade defence measures; the reintroduction of a list of wood exporters and the lack of timely notifications. It also took note of the responses given by the Russian Federation on these issues.

12.3.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council took note of the statements made by Australia; Canada; Chinese Taipei; the European Union; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; the United States; and Ukraine reiterating their concerns about the Russian Federation's trade restricting measures, including those preventing agricultural products from transiting through the Russian Federation's territory to countries in Central Asia, and of Russia's trend to discriminate against imported products in favour of like domestic products. The Council also took note of the responses given by the Russian Federation.

13  Japan - Wood Use Points Programme

13.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegations of Canada and the European Union. The Council took note of the statements made by Canada; the European Union; Indonesia; New Zealand; and the United States, and of the responses by Japan. Canada circulated additional written questions to Japan in document G/C/W/690 and Japan circulated its responses to the additional questions by Canada in document G/C/W/693.

13.2.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegations of Canada; the European Union; and Norway. The Council took note of the statements made by Canada; the European Union; New Zealand; Norway; Indonesia; and the United States, and of the responses by Japan. The Council also took note of the written responses of Japan (document G/C/W/700) to the additional questions posed by Canada in document G/C/W/696.

14  Nigeria – Local Content Measures in Oil and Gas

14.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegations of the European Union and the United States. The Council took note of the statements made by Australia; the European Union; Japan; and the United States on their concerns regarding the Local Content Act of 2010 and the review of Schedule A of such Law. The Council also took note of the responses by Nigeria.

14.2.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegation of the European Union. The Council took note of the statements made by Australia; the European Union; and the United States on the mandatory use of locally manufactured products in the oil and gas industry, and about the possible extension of local content requirements to additional goods and services. The Council also took note of the responses by Nigeria.

14.3.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegation of the European Union. The Council took note of the statements made by Canada; the European Union; Japan; Korea; and the United States, recalling the concerns previously raised in the Goods Council and in other WTO bodies about a growing number of trade and investment restrictions affecting a broad range of sectors. It also took note of the responses by Nigeria.

15  Nigeria – Restriction/Ban Imposed by Nigeria to Imports of Sea Products

15.1.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council considered this issue at the request of Iceland, Norway, and Uruguay, and took note of the statements made by Chile; the European Union; Iceland; Norway; the United States; and Uruguay, reiterating concerns about the possible reduction of imports of sea products into Nigeria. It also took note of the statement made by Nigeria.

15.2.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered this issue at the request of Chile; the European Union; Iceland; Norway; and the United States; and took note of the statements made by Chile; the European Union; Iceland; Norway; Uruguay; and the United States of America reiterating their concerns over the import restrictions of sea products. It also took note of the responses by Nigeria.

16  European Union – The EU Renewable Energy Directive (eu red) – Request from Indonesia

16.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council took note of the statements made by Argentina; Indonesia; and Malaysia about the European Union Energy Directive No. 2009/28/EC on the use of energy from renewable sources and its impact on the market access conditions for biodiesel imported into the EU market. The Council also took note of the responses given by the European Union.

17  European Union – restrictions on the importation of BIODIESEL FROM THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC: MINISTERIAL ORDER OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN No. IET/822/2012 OF 20 APRIL 2012 AND RESOLUTION No. 1173 OF 24 JANUARY 2014 OF THE SECRETARIAT FOR ENERGY OF THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND TOURISM OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN – STATEMENT BY Argentina

17.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council took note of the statements made by Argentina; Indonesia; and Malaysia concerning the selection process of firms to which quotas of biofuel would be allocated in accordance with the Ministerial Order No. IET/822/2012. The Council also took note of the responses by the European Union.

18  UNITED STATES – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA) – NOTICE ON DATA AVAILABILITY CONCERNING RENEWABLE FUELS PRODUCED FROM PALM OIL UNDER THE RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD (RFS) PROGRAM – REQUEST FROM INDONESIA

18.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council took note of the statement made by Indonesia on the US Congress Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program which established a mandatory minimum volume of biofuel to be used in the national transportation fuel supply. The Council also took note of the responses by the United Sates.

19  european union – unfavourable practices affecting palm oil – request from Indonesia

19.1.  At its meeting on 19 June, the Council took note of the statement made by Indonesia about the imposition by the EU of anti‑dumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia and about the campaign in the EU market against food containing oil derived from palm oil; it also took note of the responses provided by the European Union.

20  BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA – MEASURES AFFECTING TRADE IN GOODS –STATEMENT BY PANAMA

20.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegation of Panama, and took note of the statements made by Cuba; Ecuador; Nicaragua; Panama; and the Plurinational State of Bolivia on the measures adopted by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Decree 600 of 21 November 2013 aimed at controlling costs and to establish fair prices. The Council also took note of the responses given by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

21  EUROPEAN UNION – AUTONOMOUS PREFERENTIAL MEASURES IN RESPECT OF UKRAINE – REQUEST FROM THE Russian Federation

21.1.  At its meeting on 9 April, the Council considered this issue at the request of the Russian Federation under the Agenda item "Other Business", and took note of the statements made by the Russian Federation and Ukraine in respect of the announcement made by the EU in March 2014 to temporarily remove customs duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU; it also took note of the responses given by the European Union.

21.2.  At its meeting on 19 June, the Council considered this issue at the request of the Russian Federation and took note of the statements made by Argentina; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Nicaragua; the Russian Federation; and Ukraine on the unilateral preferences of the European Union in favour of Ukraine; it also took note of the responses given by the European Union.

22  trade restrictive measures by certain wto members – request from the Russian Federation

22.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council considered this issue at the request of the Russian Federation under the Agenda item "Other Business" and under the title "Restrictive trade measures declared by certain Members". The Council took note of the statement made by the Russian Federation about the Executive Orders of 6, 17 and 20 March 2014 adopted by the United States of America which entitled the US Treasury to list individuals from the Russian Federation whose assets within the US territory, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, had been blocked. It also took note of the response provided by the United States.

22.2.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council considered, at the request of the Russian Federation, the issue of "Trade Restrictive Measures by certain Members". The Council took note of the statements made by the Russian Federation in respect of the measures adopted by the United States of America and Canada to block assets of certain persons and to prohibit any transactions with these persons; it also took note of the responses provided by Canada and the United States.

23  Brazil – import duties on diammonium phosphate (DAP) – request from the russian federation

23.1.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council took note of the statement made by the Russian Federation on the import duties applied by Brazil to Diammonium Phosphate; and of the responses by Brazil.

24  Norway – measures affecting trade in fish goods – request from the Russian Federation

24.1.  At its meeting on 19 June, the Council took note of the statement made by the Russian Federation on the prohibition on sales or exports of wild living maritime resources established by Norway when these did not take place through an authorized fisherman's own sales organization or without its authorization; it also took note of the response provided by Norway.

25  KINGdom of Bahrain – customs duties on cigarettes

25.1.  At its meeting of 19 June, the Council considered this issue at the request of Switzerland under the Agenda item "Other Business". The Council took note of the statement made by Switzerland about the customs duties currently applied by the Kingdom of Bahrain on cigarettes which consisted of a mixed duty of 100% ad valorem with a minimum charge of 10 Bahraini dinars per 1,000 cigarettes.

25.2.  At its meeting on 17 November, the Council considered this issue at the request of Switzerland and took note of Switzerland's statement reiterating its concerns about the Kingdom of Bahrain's duties currently levied on cigarettes which were higher than those in Bahrain's Schedule of Concessions. The Council also took note of the response given by Bahrain.

26  Ukraine – anti‑dumping measure on imports of ammonium nitrate from the Russian Federation

26.1.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered this issue at the request of the delegation of the Russian Federation, and took note of the statement it made reiterating the concerns already expressed at the October 2014 meeting of the Committee on Anti‑Dumping which referred to the WTO consistency of Ukraine's reviews of its anti‑dumping measure on ammonium nitrate originating in the Russian Federation. The Council also took note of the responses given by Ukraine.

27  Canada – preferential measures under canada's tariff regime – request from the separate customs territory of taiwan, penghu, kinmen and matsu

27.1.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council considered this issue at the request of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, and took note of the statements made by Chinese Taipei about the possible discriminatory aspects of Canada's General Preferential Tariffs (GPT) scheme. It also took note of the responses by Canada.

28  statement by the United States of America on data, hs transposition work, and outstanding notifications

28.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Council took note of the statements made by Canada; Chinese Taipei; the European Union; Japan; and the United States of America on the call to Members by the United States to complete and update their data on trade trends, the changes in their HS nomenclature, as well as their notification obligations.

29  Work Programme on Electronic Commerce

29.1.  At its meeting of 9 April, the Chairperson reminded delegations that Ministers in Bali agreed, first, to continue with the positive work under the Work Programme on E‑Commerce based on its existing mandate and guidelines and on the basis of proposals submitted by Members in the respective WTO bodies; second, to instruct the General Council and its relevant bodies, including this Council, to continue to reinvigorate this work, especially under the initiatives taken in relation to commercial issues, development, and evolving technologies; and third, that any relevant body of the Work Programme might explore appropriate mechanisms to address the relationship between electronic commerce and development in a focused and comprehensive manner. He invited delegations to express their opinions and to make suggestions as to how to work on the preparations of the periodic reviews to be held in the General Council at its sessions in July and December of 2014, and in July of 2015. At that meeting the Council also took note of the statement made by Cuba.

29.2.  At its meeting on 19 June, the Chairperson recalled the Bali mandate on the Work Programme on E‑commerce and invited delegations to make further comments on this issue. He also informed delegations that he would prepare a factual report to the General Council at its meeting on the 24^th and 25^th of July^[2].

29.3.  At its meeting on 17 November the Chairperson recalled the Bali mandate on the Work Programme on E‑commerce and invited delegations to make further comments on this issue. He also informed delegations that he would prepare a factual report^[3] to the General Council at its meeting on 10 December 2014.

30  Consideration of annual reports of subsidiary bodies of the Council for Trade in Goods

30.1.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council took note of the annual reports of its subsidiary bodies.^[4]

31  Adoption of the Annual Report of the Council for Trade in Goods to the General Council

31.1.  At its meeting of 17 November, the Council adopted its Annual Report (2014) to the General Council.

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