INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED SYSTEM 2007 CHANGES INTO

WTO SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS

Draft Waiver Decision

The General Council,

Having regard to Articles IV:2 and IX:3 of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (the "WTO Agreement");

Recognizing that the adoption of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (hereinafter referred to as the "Harmonized System") has, in addition to facilitating international trade and the analysis of trade statistics, ensured greater uniformity in countries' customs classification, thus enabling them to monitor and protect the value of tariff concessions;

Noting that, in accordance with Article 16 of the Harmonized System Convention, the Council of the World Customs Organization adopted a Recommendation on 26 June 2004 concerning amendments to the Harmonized System which will come into force on 1 January 2007 (hereinafter referred to as "HS2007 changes");

Considering that the General Council by its decisions of 15 December 2006^[1], 18 December 2007^[2], 18 December 2008^[3], 17 December 2009^[4], 14 December 2010^[5] and 30 November 2011^[6], 11 December 2012^[7], 26 November 2013^[8], 11 December 2014^[9], 30 November 2015^[10], 12 December 2016^[11], and 1 December 2017^[12], acting pursuant to the provisions of Articles IV:2 and IX:3 of the WTO Agreement, suspended the application of the provisions of Article II of GATT 1994 for certain Members, from the date of implementation of HS2007 changes for those Members until 31 December 2018, to the extent necessary to implement domestically the HS2007 changes pending incorporation of such changes into their Schedules of Concessions, subject to certain conditions;