REPORT (2023) OF THE COMMITTEE ON IMPORT LICENSING
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS

1.  The Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (hereinafter "the Agreement") which entered into force on 1 January 1995, establishes disciplines on users of import licensing systems with the principal objective of ensuring that the procedures applied for granting import licences do not in themselves restrict trade. It aims to simplify, clarify and minimize the administrative requirements necessary to obtain import licences.

2.  The Committee on Import Licensing was established to afford Members the opportunity of consulting on any matter relating to the operation of the Agreement or the furtherance of its objectives. The Committee's Rules of Procedure, which were approved by the Council for Trade in Goods, are contained in document G/L/147.

3.  All Members of the WTO are ipso facto members of the Committee. Observer governments in the General Council of the WTO have Observer status in the Committee. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and UNCTAD have regular observer status in the Committee.

4.  The focus of this report is on the period since the Committee's last annual report (G/L/1433), namely 8 October 2022 – 31 October 2023 (hereinafter "the reporting period"). In 2023, the Committee held two formal meetings, on 23 May 2023 (G/LIC/M/56), under the chairpersonship of Mr Jia Jie Loh (Singapore), and on 31 October 2023 (G/LIC/M/57[1]), under the chairpersonship of Mr Nat Tharnpanich (Thailand). Both meetings took place in hybrid mode with in‑person and remote attendance. The Committee also held two informal meetings, which took place in hybrid mode, on 14 March 2023 under the chairpersonship of Mr Jia Jie Loh (Singapore) and on 29 September 2023 under the chairpersonship of Mr Nat Tharnpanich (Thailand). On 8 June 2023, through written procedures, the Committee elected Mr Nat Tharnpanich (Thailand) by acclamation as Chairperson of the Committee for 2023. Pursuant to the Committee's Rules of Procedure, the officers shall hold office until the end of the first meeting of the following year.

5.  Pursuant to Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b) of the Agreement and procedures agreed by the Committee, all Members are required to notify their laws, regulations, and administrative procedures relevant to import licensing and to submit copies of any relevant publications or laws and regulations upon becoming a WTO Member. Any subsequent changes to these laws, regulations, and administrative procedures are also required to be published and notified. Pursuant to subparagraphs 1‑4 of Article 5, Members are also required to notify the institution of new import licensing procedures or changes in these procedures to the Committee within 60 days of publication.

6.  During the reporting period, the Committee reviewed 102 notifications under these three provisions (Annex I) from the following 14 Members: Argentina; Dominican Republic; European Union; Hong Kong, China; Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Macao, China; Myanmar; Philippines; Switzerland‑Liechtenstein; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and Ukraine.

7.  Article 5.5 of the Agreement allows Members to submit reverse notifications, where a Member considers that another Member has not notified the institution of a licensing procedure or changes in the procedures. However, no such reverse notifications have been received within the reporting period.

8.  Article 7.3 of the Agreement requires all Members to provide replies to the Questionnaire on Import Licensing Procedures[2] by 30 September each year. During the reporting period, the Committee reviewed 47 notifications (Annex II) from the following 36 Members: Albania; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Burkina Faso; Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; El Salvador; European Union; The Gambia; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Macao, China; Mauritius; Myanmar; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Panama; Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland‑Liechtenstein; Chinese Taipei; Tunisia; Türkiye; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay. These notifications can be found in document series G/LIC/N/3/.

9.  The Committee has provided a regular forum for exchanging views on notifications submitted by Members. Written comments and questions concerning notifications submitted to the Committee and/or on import licensing procedures maintained by Members, and replies thereto, may be found in the document series G/LIC/Q/‑. During the review period, the United States posed questions to Argentina (G/LIC/Q/ARG/22), India (G/LIC/Q/IND/29), Indonesia (G/LIC/Q/IDN/50) and the Philippines (G/LIC/Q/PHL/11). The following Members provided written responses to comments and questions: the Philippines to the follow‑up questions from the United States (G/LIC/Q/PHL/10) and Indonesia to the United States (G/LIC/Q/IDN/51). At the Committee meetings, Members exchanged views on the issues raised.

10.  A number of specific trade concerns were raised by Members during the reporting period. Table 1 shows the specific trade concerns raised by Members during the formal meetings of the Committee.