REPORT (2016) OF THE COMMITTEE OF
PARTICIPANTS ON THE EXPANSION
OF TRADE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
1.1. The Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in
Information Technology Products, hereinafter referred to as "the
Committee", was established pursuant to the provisions of the Ministerial
Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (WT/MIN(96)/16),
hereinafter referred to as "the Ministerial Declaration", and the
provisions for the Implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on Trade in
Information Technology Products (G/L/160), in order to carry out the provisions
of paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the Annex to the Declaration.
1.2. The Committee has held two formal meetings in 2016: on 18 April
and 1 November. The minutes of these meetings are contained in
documents G/IT/M/64 and G/IT/M/65. Ms Zsofia Tvarusko (Hungary) was
elected Chairperson of the Committee for 2016.
1.3. The total number of WTO Members that are participants to the
Ministerial Declaration is 82. The Committee's rules of procedure provide for
observer status in the Committee for WTO Members that are not participants
to the Ministerial Declaration, and governments that are observers to the
Council for Trade in Goods. Requests for observer status by international
intergovernmental organizations are considered on a case‑by‑case basis. The
International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) have been granted observer status, and the World Customs
Organization (WCO) has been granted observer status to meetings where
issues of HS classification and HS amendments are included in the
agenda.
1.4. The Committee continued its deliberations on the Non‑Tariff Measures
(NTMs) Work Programme in 2016. With regard to its work on the
EMC/EMI Pilot Project, the Committee took note that, among the
53 participants, 33 had provided survey responses and the Committee
encouraged those that had not yet done so to provide the information without
any further delay. In considering ways to advance and expand its work on NTBs
other than EMC/EMI, the Committee continued its discussions on the follow‑up to
the workshop held on 7 May 2015 on NTBs affecting trade in
IT products. The main issues raised at the workshop by industry
representatives were: transparency, standards for recognition of test results,
e‑labelling, and energy efficiency. A factual report on the workshop was
circulated in document G/IT/28 under the Chair's responsibility. At the
request of the Committee, the Chairperson undertook informal consultations with
interested delegations to examine the recommendations and avenues that were
suggested by industry representatives at the NTB workshop, and such
consultations will continue in 2017.
1.5. On classification divergences, with regard to the Committee's Decision
(G/IT/27) concerning the endorsement of the 18 List I‑A items for
Attachment B (G/IT/W/34), the Secretariat has been approached by
five ITA Participants for technical assistance. For the remaining
37 Attachment B items, the Committee, at its meeting of
18 April 2016, agreed on a Decision (G/IT/29) for the
HS2007 classification of 15 additional "Attachment B"
products. The Secretariat's comments on the remaining 22 items and
comments received from 13 delegations were compiled in
document G/IT/W/40 and its Addenda and Supplements.
1.6. The Committee has consistently reviewed the status of
implementation, a summary of which is provided in document G/IT/1 and its
revisions. The document details that most participants had submitted the formal
documentation for rectification and modification of their WTO schedules in
order to incorporate the commitments arising from the Ministerial Declaration,
and most had been certified by the Director‑General.
1.7. At the meetings of 18 April and 1 November 2016, the
Committee took note of the plurilateral negotiations and the result of an
agreement on product expansion among some participants (WT/L/956 and WT/MIN(15)/25),
and its implementation. The Committee agreed to revert to this matter at its
future meetings.
1.8. The Committee agreed to hold a symposium on 10‑11 May 2017
to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ministerial Declaration on
Trade in Information Technology Products (WT/MIN(96)/16).
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